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i;, |. ( ICKAM). r.. >^, M > , I'. 1>. s. 
I t'roft.-S!-oi' ;it l'iii\rrsit\ nl Illinois.) 



HISTORY 



CRISPE FAMILY, 



II. .1. CHiK'AXl). B. S., M.S., D. D. S., 

Profts^.r 1.1 I'ro«ilu-tii- Dt'iiti-^lry and History, riiiversity of Illinois;; to 

iTly snine Chair at XorUiwcstcrn Tnivtrsily: Delegate to 

Internalional Dental Congress. I'aris; Author 

of "History of Denti.stry," ailtl "Story 

of the Great Seal of the 

fnited States." 



P.irt One Crispe Family in the Old World. 
P.irt Two Crispe Family in the New World. 



COPIOUSLY ILLUSTRATED. FULLY ANNOTATED. 



cniCACO, U.MN'Ols. 

I ()0 1 . 

ITIiLISHHl) 1!V THK .AUTHOK. 



^^fv 



Two Couies Heceivei* 

MAY 26 1905 

k , CouyriKnt Entry 
\ii\jaS <3- AXc Moi 



Hntered acconliiis to an Act of Congie-.s m the year I'ldl 

BV Dr. n. J. CIGRANn, 
the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



INSCRIPTION. 

In tlir foiul liopL- uf rcndeririR 

a mark of respect to the 

entire Crispe family, 

the (ledicatdrial 

note is made 

in honor of 

Ai.ici-: N. Crisi'k, 

my wife, 

Whose uencroiis iru niirat;emcnt 

and .ucleiil inliTist has had 

a henit;ii inlhunee on 

tlie a(iiii-\ euiints of 

its .oillior. 

Dr. li. |. Cii;rand. 



" For a goiid Iroc lirinu'clh not lorth cnrnipt fniil, nritlicr dutli 
a ci>rrii|it trcL- liiins ["fth goiid fruit; <-\vr\- tnc is kiKuvn hv his 
(iwn fruit, for of tlioriis nion do not ij.ilhrr tis^s, ni>r of .i lir.miliK- 
Imsli rr.itlier they K'''M"'^- ' ■'^"'- l-itl'i't'', l.^-ll- 



" He who has no interest in the careers of liis nneestors. is a 
selfish l<na\c, not deserving of mucli confidence." — J..\. Garfu-/:!. 



TRKFACE. 

The following letter sent to the Crispe Family well 
supplies the purpose of a proem for this work: 

DiCAK Rki.ative: — 

In 1S91 I began to com]-)ile the genealogy of the 
Crispe family, and during these ten years, studiously- de- 
voted time to searching the various sources of record in 
I'rance, luigland and America. 

I am pleasc<l to announce to the family of Crispe, 
and such as are interested in this family, that I have 
completed the arduous task undertaken in 1891. 

It has heen a pleasant work, inasmuch as my wife, 
Allir X. Cris]ie, has gi\-en enthusiastic encouragement 
in the work. I can assure you the name Crispe is hon- 
<irahl\- known to pages of history in both the old and 
!Kw world. 

The Crispe famih' hails from France, and I de\'ote 
considerable space to their famih- career while tlie\ in- 
habited the land of the fleur-de-lys. Their religious 
convictions, and the sulisequent expulsion from France 
on account of antagonistic views relative to the estab- 
lished church of France, is all carefully described: and 
their ■-•migration to Fngland and their jirogress and 
environments are treated in a clear and fair minded 
manner. The spirit of Huguenotism in the Crispe family 



THE HISTORY OF 



receives due consideration. Few families of southern 
England have contributed more to the gk^ry and great- 
ness of England than the Crispe family. 

They count among their kinsman innumerahle rela- 
tives whose personality and life has formed a part of 
the archives of the Government Library. They were peo- 
ple of affairs and their influence was felt throughout 
southern England, where their power was well recog- 
nized by not alone eclesiasts and polititians, but kings 
as well. The intimate relation which some of the 
Crispes held with the regal element of Old England, is 
best expressed in the documents and coats-of-arms of 
those heraldic times. 

The family has been prominent in militare' and par- 
liament, and sketches of their personality have fotnid 
their way into the magazine articles, society papers and 
reference books. Among those of the family who have 
deserved special consideration for having contrilnited to 
English civics, literature and the professions, I cheerfully 
mention Sir Henry Crispe, Sir Nicholas Crispe, Sir Row- 
land Crispe, Sir Richard Crispe, General Nicholas Crispe, 
Reverand Thomas Crispe and Dr. Tobias Crispe. 

Nearly every ofBce of importance from Member of 
Parliament to Colonel in the army has come to the Crispes, 
and we find recorded Knights, Barons, Sheriffs and 
Governors with the name Crispe. Their share in the 
numerable wars of Great Britain, and their interest in 
the general progress of civilization is deserving of record. 



Till' CklSPI'; I'AMII.V 



The Crispe Cliaiit\- Farm, tlie Quex-Ciispe Mansion, the 
Kinj; of Thanet, the Castle Home, and \-arious other 
sul)jects — tt-am with interestino; liistorical matter, such 
as will awaken admiration in even those claiming no 
kinship. 

In the new world — America, the pages of early 
settlers contain many references to the Crispes — and it 
will he a hapjiy surprise to ]iresent day, Crispes to learn 
of tile part that the Crispe family pla\ed in the founding 
of our colonial, confederate and federal governments. 
The Crispe family was not limited to France and England 
alone, hut was a powerful famil\- in colonial times in 
Old New Ivngland. 

Tliey came with the pilgrims, and otliers were mem- 
hers of the Massachusetts Hay Colony. They were 
soldiers in the F'reuch- Indian wars; assisted in founding 
American institutions and policies, and were among the 
volunteers of the Revolutionary Army; while others 
served in the Civil W:ir and rejiresented States in Con- 
gress. Strange as it may read, a gratit of land to the 
Crispe family liy Charles I, is still known in the State of 
Maine as "the Crispe Cirant." The Plow Transporta- 
tion Company, which did such excellent service during 
colonial times, was directed by a Crispe. The earliest 
known jury trial in America had among its jurors a 
Crispe. Incidents of a most interesting character per- 
taining to Lydia Crispe, an Indian captive; and the trial 
of Rodger Williams, and the stealing of the charter of 



THl' HISTORY OF 



Connecticut; marriage of the Governor of Virginia, all 
have received my careful consideration. 

The facts in my History of the Crispc Family are 
authentic, and on all pages can be found annotations re- 
ferring to the document, the volume and page where 
these items were gotten. Hence the work will be of a 
purely historical character, and cannot fail to be of in- 
terest to the family it describes, and reading public as 
well. It is my aim to devote most of the space to the 
Crispes of bye-gone-days and add such memoranda of 
the Crispes of to-day as may be of special concern. 

The work has entailed a large outla>- of money in 
its compilation and the time and energy devoted to its 
completion, in manuscript form, can only be known or 
appreciated by those who have ever attempted an under- 
taking of this kind. The great task of searching 
government records, consulting voluminous writings at 
tile various libraries, conducting an extensive corres- 
pondence, and adjusting and arranging the accounts, 
makes it a labor covering years of time; and since a 
major portion of the work is the result of correspondence 
across the sea, it necessitated great expense in having 
the attornies copy from the records. 

The work will contain upwards of 400 pages, and be 
embellished with about 100 engravings, the majority of 
which have never found their wa>- into print 

It gives me .sorrow to mention that Mrs. limma 
Crispe-Polhemns, of New York city, died in 1S99, since 




\rf.Coh )iQ7;isp3ar 



CRISl'K AMI \VI;NNK ARMS. 







l;l KCIIINC, II )N t lll'K( II. 
iCont.iininy Cris|K Mmuiiiunls.) 



THl' CUISPE FAMILY. 17 

it was her earnest ambition to aid me in getting this historj- 
of the Crispe family into hook form, and were she hving 
to-day tliere wonld he httle delay in getting it before 
the famil>-, as we both assnmed like obligation in Ijring- 
iiig forth the History of the Crispe Family — I was to 
gather the material and write the book, and she wonld 
pay for getting the information and publish the book. 
Her ])rematiire death has compelled me to make all out- 
lay my personal debt, since the heirs of the estate of 
lunma Crispe- Pohlmeus have made no provision for re- 
imbursing me. Thus far I have paid out about $580.00 
in bringing the work into manuscript form. This, I pre- 
sume, will fall to Uie to donate, besides the labors in- 
volved of writing and arranging the work — iniless some 
of the family meet it by subscription. 

To put the manuscript into book form, to engrave 
about 100 illustrations, and bind 100 copies will cost as 
per lowest estimate as follows: 

60 engravings SI 20 00 

40 engravings — hah tones S5 on 

Ci>ni|)iisition on 400 pages 340 00 

■ Binding 100 copies 48 00 

Ci)[)yright and ])rcss work 76 00 

Total S660 00 

Let me know what you will contribute to the pub- 
lishing of the "History of the Crispe Family." If the 
Crispi' people see that this sum i $669.00 ) is subscribed. 



i8 



THE HISTORY OF 



I will donate the expense of compiliiig the book — the 
sum of iJ^So.oo. If I receive ready response, the book 
will be ready by Christmas, igoi. 

Trusting voii will manifest ymir ln\o nf f.iniily by aid- 
ing in publishing this historical wDrk, and hii|iiug you may 
contribute a reasonable amotmt, 1 am jileased lo l]e 
\"erv sincerely, 




rrofes^orcf Dental Prostliesis. rtiiversity of IlliT.ois. 
N. Ii. — Your subscri]ilion must be in my hands liy ( >c- 
tober 1, igoi. 



The prompt response of the members of the Crispe 
family is a gratifying evidence of the great interest they 
have in preserving the records and acts of their fore- 
fathers. It affords me great pleasure to mention that 
the liberal donations received from some of the family 
impells me to call attention to this feature in their re- 
spective biographies. 

This preface would certainly be incomplete if I 
failed to acknowledge the valuable and extensive service 
rendered by F. C. Crispe, of London, since to him I am 
largely indebted for the possession of innumerable docu- 
ments and photographs. B. J. C. 

Octol)er I , lyoi . 



THIv CRISPIv FAMILY. 19 



INTKOnrCTIOX. 

IIISTOKV OK TlIK CKISI'K FAMIIA'. 

TluTo arc ilcods wliicli shcnild not |i:iss away, 

And nanus tliat niiisi not uitlicr. 

'I'lu' spirit of a single man 

Makes that of ninllitndes take ono dirt-ition, 

As roll ttif uali-rs to tlu- lirtMlliinj; wind- /I'jvw/. 

\o man's arts die nttuiK ; and tli(mL;li Ins body may dissohe 
into dust and air, his <;ood or b.id deeds will still be lirinyini; fortfi 
fruit after their kind, and intluencin;; generations of men for all 
lime to come, It is in this momentous f.ut tli,it tlie ;;reat |ieril 
and responsibility of hum.m existence lies, /.'((//-v. 

Till- above (iiiotatioiis from eminent writers need no 
explanation, as they are facts which speak for them- 
selves. Now, if what these men say be true and correct, 
let ns march into the forest and examine and determine 
with cool deliberation of what wood the Crispe tree is 
composed. Let us observe as we ascetid from the trunk 
to the farthest extended limb, what the composition of 
the blood is that flows in its veins. Let us, furthermore, 
decide whether the tree is sturdy and durable, or weak 
and subvertable. By the appearance and condition of 
the limbs we can easily judge what rough gales it has 
encounteied. When we know the nature of the tree — 
that is, is it a plittn, thorn, beech, hickory or oak — we 
can instatitiv tell what frtiit it vields. Moreover, if we 



TH]'; HISTORY OF 



have a knowledge of the ground upon wliich a tree 
grows, we can form an idea as to tlie kind (jf tree. We 
know tliat swampy and marsliy land is the home of the 
pine, cedar and larch; and we know, also, that clay and 
rock land is the home of the sturdy oak, beech, hickory 
and maple. 

No scientific fact has been more thoroughly demon- 
strated, or is better understood by the laity, than that 
the mental and physical characteristics of the jiarents 
are transmitted to the children. Not that children are 
always the exact reproductions of their parents — they 
may be better, they may be worse — but the strong influ- 
ence of heredity is ever a potent factor in determining 
the moral, mental and physical status of the offspring. 
"Who shall estimate the effects of those latent forces 
enfolded in the spirit of a new-born child; forces that 
may date back centuries and find their origin in the life, 
thought and deed of remote ancestors; forces, the germs 
of which enveloped in the awful mysteries of life? All- 
cherrishing Nature, provident and unforgetting, gathers 
up all these fragments that nothing be lost, hut that all 
may reappear in new combinations. Each new life is 
thus the heir of all the ages." 

The eminent historian and scholar, John Clark Red- 
path, says: 

" The law of heredity has long been suspected, and 
in late years has been, to a considerable extent, regarded 
as the demonstrated and universal order of nature. It 



THlv CRISrK FAMILY 



is the law by wliich the offspring iiilierits the qiiaHties 
and characteristics of its ancestors. It makes the oak 
the same kind of a tree as the parent from which the 
seed acorn fell. It makes a tree which sprang from the 
seed of a large peach, yield downy fruit as large and 
Inscioiis as the juicy ancestor. It says that every thing 
shall produce after its kind; that small radishes shall 
come from the seed of small radishes, and a richly per- 
fumed geranium from the slip cut from one of that kind. 
It says that, other things being equal, the descendant of 
a fast horse shall be fast, and the posterity of a plug 
shall be plugs. But a man has many more qualities and 
possibilities than a vegetable or a brute. He has an in- 
finitely wider range through which his characteristics 
may run, Tlie color of his Iiair, his size, his strength, 
are but the smallest part of his inheritance. He inherits, 
also, the size and texture of his brain, the shape of his 
skull, and the skill of his hands. It is among his an- 
cestry that tnust be sought the reason and source of his 
powers. It is there that is largely determined the ques- 
tion of his capacity for ideas, and it is from his ancestry 
that a man should form his ideal of his capacity. It is 
there that are largely settled the matters of his tastes 
and temper, of his ambitions and his powers. The ques- 
tion of whether he shall be a mechanic, a tradesman or 
a lawyer is already settled before he gets a chance at the 
problem. ' ' 

The old myth about the gods holding a council at 



THl' HISTORY OF 



the birth of every mortal and determining his destiny 
has some trutli in it. In one respect it is wrong. The 
council of the gods is held years before liis birth; it has 
bv^en in session all the time. If a man has musical skill, 
he gets it from his ancestry. It is the same with an in- 
ventor, or an artist, or a scholar, or a preacher. Tliis 
looks like the law of fate. It is not. It is the fate of 
law. 

Hut this is not all of the law of inheritance. Men 
have an inherited moral nature, as well as an intellectual 
one. Drunkenness, sensuality, la/iness, extravagance 
and pauperism are handed d(_iwn from father to son. 
Appetites are inherited, and so are haliits. On the other 
hand, courage, energy, self-denial, the pciwer of work, 
are also transmitted and inherite<l. If a man's ancestry 
were thieves, it will not do to trust him. If the\' were 
bold, true, honest men and wcimen, it will dc> to rely 
upon him. 

In late years this law of inheritance has lieen much 
studied by scientists. The general law is about as has 
been stated; but it has innumeraljle offsets and qnallifi- 
cations which are not understood. Sometimes a child is 
a compound of the qualities of both parents. More fre- 
quently the son resembles the mother, and the daughter 
the father. Sometimes the child resembles neither par- 
ent, but seems to inherit ever\thing from an uncle or an 
aunt. Often the resemblance to the grand-parent is the 
most marked. That these complications are governed 



THl'; CRISI'J'. FAMILY. 23 



by fixed, tlioiigh at present iniknowii, laws cannot be 
doubted, but for tlie purposes of biography the fjuestion 
is unessential. Scientists say that nine-tenths of a 
man's genius is hereditary and one-tenth accidental. 
The inherited portion may ai^pear large, but it is to be 
remembered that only possibilities are inherited, and 
that not one man in a million reaches the limit of his 
possibilities. 

It is undoubtedly the desire of everybody to know 
.something about his " ancestral blood:" for if he ha.s a 
knowledge of this, he most assuredly has a fair under- 
standing of liin.self. To strengthen this statement we 
need only add the old adage, "know thyself." But 
how can we know ourselves when we know not who our 
forefathers were? Hence, it is among his ancestry that 
we can largely determine the question of his capacity of 
ideas, his taste, temper, ambition and power. 

The old adage "blood will tell," is one whicli the 
science of to day has proven to be correct. But other 
conditions and circumstances will tell. Education and 
environment will tell. A body weak by inheritance may 
be strengthened and made vigorous by proper exercise, 
nourishment and careful observations of hygenic laws; 
but the inherited weakness will ever render it more sus- 
ceptible to disease. A mind torpid by inheritance may 
by education and cultivation be brouglit to the highest 
possible level of which mind is capable, but the influence 
of heredity will still be manifest. The law of heredity 



24 TH]'; HISTORY OF 

is most strikingly exemplified in the musical families of 
Bach and Strauss, of Germany, and the love of law in 
the Adams family in America. For generations the 
former have been the great musicians of the Teutonic 
race, and the latter have been prominent at the bar in 
the United States for four generations. 

The old Saxon saying, "What the gods have be- 
stowed upon you the winds can't blow away," is gospel, 
and to know what this heritage is, you must acquaint 
yourself with those of your family who have " gone 
before." 



THE CRISPE FAMILY OF EUROPE. 



France and England. 







l;l^l■|.,^ A.s MiKM.W I KINcIl soLDlERS. 
I Willi. Jill tin- Ciiiic|iu-ror, lofrfi.) 



Till'. CRISPr; FAMILY. 29 



ORIGIN OF THE FAMILY. 
The Crispe family takes its origin in the northern 
portion 1 >f I'rance, where as early as 1027 we find they 
were land owners, and by occnpation horseshoe-smiths. 
In the .\rcha:'<ilogical Archives at Paris can be seen a great 
variety of deeds, wills, abstracts and contracts which 
contain the name of Crispe. It would be interesting, and 
instructive as well, to include these strangely written 
dociunents in this history of the famils', but it would add 
consick-rabk' to the size of this voluine, and would not 
assist much in delin(.aliug these people. However, while 
on my trip through Ivurope I took special pains to deter- 
mine the origin and career of this family in the old 
world, and I am impelled to Ijclieve that the Crispe 
family was an integral part of the nobility of the ancient 
French monarchy. There is every evidence possible 
that they were among the active and prominent people of 
Northern France, and they were enlisted in the French 
armies as early as 1016. The family name occurs only 
in the northern territory, and the name also appears in 
the records of F'landers. Among the Crispes of France 
there were a few of the family wlio were quite wealthy, 
at least their wills specify a distribution of considerable 
money, land and horses; while several wills indicate that 
tlie family were largely engaged in farming and cattle 
raising. These wills for the most part are not written in 



Till'. HISTORY OF 



French, Init in Latin, as all wills of Continental Europe 
were VA'ritten prior to 1500. 

The earh- Crispe family was closely identified with 
stock farms, and they seemed especialh' interested in 
liorses; tliis latter tendency, however, mav have been 
the result of havina: heen reared in a portion of France 
where the horse-pride was iniiversal. 

Among the Crispe people there were a large numher 
who de\-oted their time to horseshoeing, and this leads 
us to determine the deri\-ation of the name Crispe. 
In the study of history we find that the people of old 
were accustomed to applying the name 1 if their trade to 
the individual; often the name was deri\-ed from some 
special trait of the person, or the peculiar pbce of his 
abode; hence, the Miller, Haker, Sn.ith, Carpenter, Hill, 
Black and Steinhouse. This agrees with the name of 
Crispe — meaning, in French, a "shoer." We need not 
seek far to ascertain why this name was appliefl to the 
family, since the earliest knc^wn kin of this name gave 
their attention to making "horseshoes." And we are 
thoroughly convinced of this when we examine the her- 
aldic emlilems which adorn the family escutcheon, for 
we find that there is bla/oned on the family shield sev- 
eral horseshoes. Of this emblematic token we will learn 
more when we study the arms and crest of the Crispe 
family. 

The name, not unlike that of other families, occurs 
in vaiious forms of spelling. Though the old French 



THE CRISPE FAMILY. 



name — Crispe, from Crispin — has had several changes to 
conform to the euphony of the various decades, strange 
as it may seem tlie name Crispe is often written differ- 
ently in the same document, and I am in possession of 
one of these old scripts where, in referring to sisters and 
brothers of the same family, the name is spelled Cryspe, 
Crisp, Crispe or Chrispe. This is due to three can.ses, first 
among which is the carelessness of many officials in 
writing or recording family names. The justice of the 
peace, or register of deeds, in those times was indifferent 
to the ]>recise or authentic way of spelling the name, 
consequently hrotlurs of the same blood were often car- 
ryin,g papers with the famih- name spelled to suit the 
pleasure of the writer of the documents. In the second 
place, the people of those olden times were unable, in 
many instances, to spell their name, hence necessitating 
tlu' official to write it as nearly correct as the voiced 
name would dictate. And in the third cause, the peo- 
ple often wrote the name to suit the locality in which 
they lived, hence the variety of forms for the same name. 
The name C-r-i-s-p-e was spelled with a "v" during 
the centuries of 12, i^and 14, after which it was changed 
to "i." When the name was written with an "h," as in 
Chrispe — the people were likely inhabiting an Anglo- 
Saxon settlement, or a Teuton was the official who wrote 
it. And it is worthy of observation that a large number 
of the Crispe peopk' were wedded to Saxon blood. The 
Cierman stock which enters into the Anglo-French 



32 THI' HISTORY OF 

Crispes would induce us to believe that the family was a 
trinity of French, German and English. The ppgcs of 
this book will show that the Crispe ancestors were mostly 
married to these three nationalities. There are some 
few of the family of Crispe who wrote their names 
C-r-i-s-p, omitting the final "e." But these are of the 
same family and have Angloni/ed the name. The Her- 
ald's College, London, an institution founded for the ex- 
press pnrjiose of keeping records of the F^nglish families, 
writes me that the names of Crispe, Cryspe, Kryspe, 
Crisp, Chrisp, Crysp, Chryspe, Krispe, all come from 
the same family, and the original spelling is C-r-i s-p-e. 
The Crispe family of France also wrote the name with 
a double "p" — Crisppe. 

The name in France is pronounced with the accent 
on the last syllable, while in the English tongue it is 
])ronounced as though containing the letters of K-r-i-s-p. 



THIv CRISPK I'AMILV 



SOLDII'KS IN THI'. KRKNCH ARMY. 
I'or bravt-ry shown in battle several of the Crispe 
family were kni,i;hte(l, and the jjoveriinient jjranted them 
a famil\- mark, or coat-of-arms. In order that we may 
more thorous^hly understand the significance of these 
considerations of honor, it will be wise to refresh our 
memory on such ]ioints of heraldry as relates to the 
Cris[)e liearint^s. These peculiar de\-ices and symliols 
have in all ijiivernments of the medieval times been 
jj^ranted to such of the inhabitants who shall merit them 
either for bravery or intellectual accomplishments, l)ut 
jirimarily they were alTorded to the soldiery. These 
marks of distinction served to identif\' the person at 
sii^ht, and were especially valuable during times of war. 
The soldiers, or knights, of those warring days wore an 
apparatus, or suit, made of metal, and known as an 
armor, which completely covered the head, face, limbs 
and body, and tlius hid from view the individual and 
also protected him from the arrow-points of the enemy. 
Leather, brass, iron, silver and e\-en .gold were used in 
the fabrication of this instrument of protection. From 
the fact of the warrior being thus concealed, it became 
necessary to devise some plan whereby the knights cotild 
be recognized at sight by means of some external bearing 
or mark. From this circumstance sprang the idea of 
placing a family ensign about the person, generally cm- 



34 THI' HISTORY OF 

broidered upon the coat or garment, which tisually cov- 
ered the armor; and so the ensign came to he called the 
coat-of-arms. These coats or frocks of choth were worn 
over the armor to protect the knight from the piercing 
rays of the sun in the summer, and the cold in winter 
was thus kept out. This ensign was also engraven on 
the shield he used, and if he was a mounted knight, the 
i>lanket on his charger also had the family ensign. 

The coat-of-arms thus became a mark of honor, de- 
noting by ilifFerent figures and colors variously arranged 
the descent, alliance and service of the bearer. These 
family distinctions were elaborated b\ the Germans in 
the loth century, but to the French is due the credit of 
perfecting it and reducing it to a svstem of technical 
nomenclature. luigland soon adopted the system with 
but few alterations. The colorings, cr tinctures, are ex- 
pressed by plain surfaces, dots or lines, as follows: 

White, or argent, represented b>' a plain surface, 
and is intended to s\inboIi/e purity, iiniocence, beauty 
and clear conscience. 

Yellow, or or, is expressed by numerous black dots, 
and indicates wealth, abundance, power and sovereignty. 

Red, or Gtu.KS, is designated by perpendicular lines, 
and betokens strength, boldness and hardiness. 

Blue, or A7.rRH, indicated by horizontal lines, sig- 
nified virtue and Godly disposition. 

Green, or VKRT, is denoted by diagonal lines, and 
meant love and gladness. 



Till'. CRISPI''. FAMILY. ,vs 



Black, or sAinj-:, is distinguished by perpendicular 
and horizontal lines criss-crossing;, indicating constaiicy 
and divine doctrines. 

l'iir]>le. or itki'I'kk, is characterized by diagonal 
lines, from upper left to lower right, and represented 
jurisdiction and rights. 

Orange, or tknn'EV, is specified by perpendicular 
lines from upper right to lower left division, and charac- 
terized self-esteem and self-glory. 

I'^mine, or itk, is indicated by a peculiar black 
mark similar toa cross, and signifies slowness and surety. 

Tiie Chief, figure a; Pale, figure b; Fess, figure c; 
Shevron, figure d; l-i:ind Dexter, figure, e; Band Sinister, 
figure f; Barry, figure g: Cross, figure h: Saltier, figure 
i — these, as the engraving show, were additional marks, 
and the subordinaries were known as Fngrailed, Invect- 
ed, Wavy, Nebule, Dancitte, Patent, Embattled, Dove- 
tailed and Ragule. With these few marks the entire 
knighthood was symbolized and distinguished. 

In conjunction with these symbols there were hel- 
mets of four varieties: the coronets of four kinds; the 
crowns, the wreaths, the crest and motto. The Crispe 
family at an early date had these marks of distinction con- 
ferred on them by the French government, for we find 
that the Crispe people possessed in their family records in 
France a family escutcheon: and the family contributed 
to the French army several brave and notable soldiers, 
who became a part of the knights of the Norman-French. 



36 THIv HISTORY OF 



In the great wars witli England and other neighbor- 
ing nations they were engaged in the cavahy of the 
French arni\'; and when the Norman- Frencli, tnider 
William the Conqurer, made war on ]{ngland he selected 
as his 1)1 id\gnard the best archers and tlie bravest knights 
from the countries of Normandy, Orleans, Lnxenburg, 
Maine and Flanders, and with this " Flower of France," 
as he called them, he crossed the FInglish Channel, and 
in one of the fiercest battles e\-er waged on l^ritish soil 
he conijiiored the liritons and Saxons and established the 
reign of France. The day before the battle, William 
sent an officer to the F^nglish and asked that the differ- 
ence between the great nations l)e settled by single com- 
bat, and thus spare the blood of thousands. P>ut the 
English refused such a decision, and welcomed battle. 
Both armies that night pitched tluir tents within easy 
sight of each other, expecting the dawn of day with im- 
patience. The I-mglish passed the night in song and 
feasting; the French in devotion and pra\er. This bat- 
tle, known as the "Carnage of Hastings," marks the 
enil of Saxon reign in England, which hatl continued for 
upwards of six hundred years. 

In this great and memorable strife, the Crispe family 
fought in the French lines, and though a few of the 
Crispe people were engaged at the battle, they, like most 
of the brave and daring soldiers of William the Con- 
quorer, returned with the King to France, receiving the 
praise and tokens of the jubilant Norman-French. It is 




iii:i.;ali)ic iinc ri'Ki:s. 




lll'.KAI.DU- riNCrURES 
AND 

KAi.DK i;()ki)p:rs. 



THIv CRISPI-: FAMILY. 41 

a part of the tradition of the Crispe family that a certain 
Sir Knight Crispe merited the highest commendation of 
William the Conqueror; and in letters in my possession, 
written by relatives, reference is made of the g-allant 
fight made by the Crispes at the battle of Hastings. 

Some have supposed that this war of 1066 marks 
the era when the Crispes emigrated to Kngland, but this 
evidently is erroneous, since their visit to England was 
purely that of soldiers, and after they saw their leader 
crowned at Westminster by the Archliishop of York, as 
William the Cnmiueror, King nf Hritain, the soldiers all 
accompanied the enthroned monarch back to the Conti- 
nent, while a few of his high officials remained in Eng- 
land to execute tlie will of the conqueror. It is most 
reasonable to suppose that the Crispe soldiers returned 
to I'rance, where they possessed great land tracts, and 
where their families resided. 

Fully three hundred years elapsed before the Crispe 
family emigrated from France to FIngland. and during 
this long period they were loyal subjects to the changing 
governments of Northern France, and they embraced, 
like other citizens of that country, the Roman Catholic 
faith — tiie established church of France. But they were 
not destined to remain French subjects, nor were they 
devined to adhere to the teachings of this ancient form 
of worship. 

The early portion of the 15th century will always 
be remembered as having brought about greater changes 



43 TlUi HISTORY OF 

in religion, politics and hahitation than any other period 
of the world's histor\'. During this epoch thf,- rulers of 
Kurope were enthroned and dethroned, and the religions 
dispositions of nations so changed that historians will 
never cease picturing to rising generations, the tragic 
scenes at the world's theater of religious intoleration. 
At this time of the human career, thousands of families 
which for generations had inhabited certain portions of 
country were by sad fate driven from house and home, 
and not infrecpiently forced to leave the cotintr>'. 

The wiitiugsdf the Knglishman, John Wvckliffe, and 
of the Bohemian, John Huss, had so inflamed the minds 
of the reading people that whole communities denied the 
power ami di\-init>'of the Popes, and this prt)voked such 
a storm of indignation that, as a coirsequence, an inqui- 
sition became the mother of a reformation. The great 
and inspiring war-cry of these times was " Religious 
Freedom." It is unnecessary to recite to the readers of 
this book the awful carnage and torture of those da>s, 
since a recitation of these direful events would contribute 
little to the value of this task, yet we are impelled to call 
attention to a brief resume' of the character of the early 
Protestants, as the Crispe family was among the early 
religionists who fought against the established church of 
France, and sufTered expulsion from the land of the 
fluer-de-lys, and they were Huguenot refugees who 
sought shelter under the toler.ant laws of old England. 

The.se Huguenots and Lollards, as the enrlv Pro- 



THK CRISPE FAMILY. 43 

tcstants were called, were .sober, earnest and faithfnl 
men, and were for the nio.st part farmers and mechanics; 
and thrdtii^'h their efforts France was about to become 
the industrial center of the civili/ed world. The re- 
formers Were excellent farmers and mechanics: every- 
where the land ijave e\-idence of their skillful culture. 
The IIu>;uenots were noted for their integrity, as well as 
their indirstry. The Huguenots' word was as good as 
his bond, and to Ije " honest as a Huguenot " became 
proverbial. This (|nality of integrity so characterized 
these people that the foreign trade fell almost entirely 
into the hands of these honest toilers. The Flnglish and 
Dutch Were always prepared to deal with the Huguenots, 
and this tendenc\- provoked the ire of those of the 
French who sought to maintain the established church, 
and tlie F"rench Catholics looked with stern disfavor on 
the tolerance shown to these French Protestants, and 
the feeling finally gave way to laws of expulsion and 
persecution. The Huguenotswere noted for being kind, 
generous and peaceable, and they preferred to leave 
France " for conscience sake " rather than take up arms 
and render needless bloodshed. But they were not al- 
lowed to depart in peace, as laws had been immediately 
enacted which carried within the statue the severest 
punishment in the event of emigration. Notwithstand- 
ing their great usefulness to the integrity and prosperity 
of France, the King had been lead to regard them with 
open hostilities. 



44 TH]' HISTORY OF 

It was generally understood that the Huguenots 
had no claim to the law; they were treated as "traitors," 
and their lands were taken from them and all property 
confiscated. The plunder was so extensive that for years 
King Phillip realized upwards of twenty millions of coin 
and land annually. Any citizen of France might mal- 
treat these reformers and suffer no harm in return. 
Their children might be stolen and enslaved, and the 
laws of these terrible times made no response. The 
fiercest and most brutal of the royal soldiers were turned 
against helpless communities of the reformed. The re- 
fusal to abjure the Protestant faith was invariably fol- 
lowed by death or imprisonment. The Huguenots were 
forbidden to bury their dead or to comfort their dying. 
The dead were usually carried to the open pasture to lie 
subject to the elements and beasts of prey. 

The persecution was so severe that the reformers 
fled from France by the thousands, notwithstanding the 
cruel laws against emigration. Many were shot down 
on their way to the sea, or captured in their attempt to 
cross the border; and those who were captured were con- 
fined in prison or given to slavery; others were sent to 
tlie galleys; the purest and gentlest of the men were 
sent to prisons and chained to the sides of the vilest 
criminals. To each captive Huguenot was held out the 
pardon writ, if he abandoned the avowed faith. Among 
the exiles were some of the noblest names of France. 
The greater number of the refugees were literary men 



TIUv CKTSPI-: FAMILY 



and those of good education. There were many fair- 
minded people in France who labored earnestly to lend 
the Huguenots a protecting hand; these peojile, though 
tlK\- did not believe with them, cheerfnllx' lent them 
aid and expressed svmpathv fur their cause: and e\en 
these sympathisers did not escape the cruelties of the 
prison life. 

0]-)pression followed ridicule, ancl banishment grew 
out of persecution. Hut all this harsh and unjust treat- 
lui-iu onh- strengthened these determined disciples of 
Christ to continue in tlu-ir liappy belief. Nothing could 
have had a more encouraging effect on tlu'ir minds than 
abuse and persecution; these two agencies were necessary 
to make a rock-fotuided faith. These reformers learned 
from the scriptures that conscience was a far more .sacred 
thing than an instituticin; that man's duty was first to 
his God, and next to his government; that piety meant 
something more than mere obser\-ance of forms and cere- 
monies; that love of justice and individual virtue was a 
nobler sentiment than loyalty — when loyalty meant tol- 
eration of iniquity and scandal. 

The untold suffering which was heaped upon these 
sincere worshipers can be better imagined than described, 
and all students of history are familiar with their heroic 
sacrifices. 

These fugitives fled leaving all they possessed to the 
intollerant; and at night, in open boats, the refugees 
braved the furv of the F'nglish Chaiuiel. 



46 THIv HISTORY OF 

Among those who endured the hardships and priva- 
tions of those days were the family of Crispe. 

It is needless to quote the anthorlty of the foregoing, 
since any history of tliose times will portray the same in- 
cidents, with possibly this difference: that the severity 
and torture is considerably elimiated and abridged in my 
account. 



Till' CRISri': FAMILY. 



THK CRISPIC FAMILY IN KNGLAND. 

The Crispe family came from the Province of Flaiid- 
ria, ami landed in Rye, Sussex county, lingland: but 
the accoiuiuodations at this small seaport were inadequate, 
and the Crispe family, with others, was compelled to 
make their abode in the moors of Sussex. They re- 
mained in this hidiiifj; place for upwards of three months 
and then went inland. From Rye many proceeded to 
London, to j<_iin their countrymen who had settled there; 
others went forward to Canterbury and towns where con- 
gregations of Huguenots were organizing. 

Full particulars of these " Refugees of France" can 
be gotten at the Sussex Archaeological Collections, vol- 
ume XIII; also in Samuel Smiles' " The Huguenots." 

What earthly possessions the Crispe family had after 
leaving their lands, cattle and estates in France is not 
definitely known, but tradition and stray records indicate 
that they brought with them considerable coin and a few 
valuables. The family settled in Kent for the most part, 
though some few emigrated to the Shires and into Nor- 
wich. The family in the Kentish district soon became 
a prominent family, identified witli the Protestant move- 
ment of England; but the incident which contributed 
most to the prominence and success was the marriage of 
a Crispe to the daughter of the famous house of Quex. 
The importance of these people and the character of this 



48 THE HISTORY OF 



kinship is best described in the following^ article, which 
can be found in " Chambers' Journal of Popular Litera- 
ture, Science and Art," volume \'I, page 173, Saturday, 
March 16, i.S.Sg: 

" THE STORY OF OUKX. 

" In the Isle of Thanet and the near vicinage of that 
favorite seaside resort of Londoners, Margate, is a resi- 
dence bearing the somewhat unenphonions name of Quex. 
This house is a modern building, and though not occupy- 
ing precisely the same site, is tb-e successor of an older 
mansion which was not wanting in historical associations, 
besides being noteworthy as the scene of the remarkable 
occurrence about to be narrated. From a view taken in 
1 78 1, the old house of Quex — or Quekes as it was some- 
times spelled — appears to have been an extensive brick 
building in the ornate F"li/abeth style, with decorative 
gables, but ha\ing large bay windows of stone. Yet 
even at that time it had fallen into an almost ruinous con- 
dition. .Some of the dilapidated rooms had already been 
pulled down; others followed from time to time; and 
early in the present century the whole of what remained 
was, with the exception of some unimportant fragments, 
demolished. A cellar and portions of a garden wall are 
alone left of it, though panelling and some other relics 
were removed to the new house. 

"Such was its fate. Yet, in addition to that story 
with which we have chiefly to do, an interest attached to 
the old house at Quex as having been an occasional place 




/ 


4 


\3 


^1 


V" 


y 



ADDI IKiN.Al. Ill-KAI.DK OR 1 1| N.\K1 KS. 




CASri.l- lUiMI 



THF. CRISri': FAMILY 



of sojourn of King William III. If, when that sov^ereign 
was about to pa>- one of his numerous visits to his native 
countr>-, he was detained by contrary winds, it was here 
that he was accustomed to take up his abode. The 
King's bedchamber was long pointed out. His guards 
encamjK-d in the enclostires round the hou,se. 

" This place was in ancient times the seat of a fam- 
ily who derived their name from it; but in the i sth cen- 
tury (about 14S5) an heir-female of the Quekes brought 
the manor to a family previously seated at Stanlake, in 
Oxfordshire — the Crispes. That house became thence- 
forward important in Kent; and a certain Henr\' Crispe, 
who died in 1575, actpiired so much local influence as to 
be commonly styled ' King of the Isle of Thanet.' 

" In Commonwealth times another Henry Crispe, a 
grand-nephew of the King of Thanet, was Master of 
Quex. This gentleman had acquired tlie nickname of 
' Bonjour Crispe ' from the circiunstance that during a 
residence in France he had learned no more of the French 
language than that one word. But if not distinguished 
as a linguist, his birth and position catised him to be re- 
spected among his neighbours. He had served his year as 
High Sheriff of Kent, and unlike many of his class, he 
had not been so indiscreet as to impoverish himself by 
any unnecessary display of loyalty for King Charles. 
He seems, indeed, so far as there is material on which 
to form a judgment, to have been one of those prudent 
politicians who endeavored to stand well with both 



54 THE HISTORY OF 

parties. At the time in question he was considerably ad- 
vanced in years and in infirm liealth, and was leading a 
life of easy and affluent retirement in his paternal 
mansion. 

" But his dignified repose was not destined to con- 
tinue. A warning was conveyed to Mr. Crispe that he 
was in danger — that he had enemies whose machinations 
threatened his safety. The exact nature of the impend- 
ing peril does not appear to have been hinted, and in- 
deed the whole warning seems to have been of the most 
vague and tmsatisfactory description. ISIost men, per- 
haps, would have treated such an anonymous alarm with 
contempt; but it filled the W(irthy owner of Ouex with 
uneasiness. He took measures for his own defence. He 
armed his servants; lie caused holes to be made in the 
walls of his house in such places as he considered desira- 
ble for the more effectual use of firearms; and is said to 
have offered bountiful entertaiimient to all those of his 
neighbours who by lodging for a night in Ouex might aid 
in his protection. 

" Hut the scare blew by. It seemed as if it had 
been a mere idle and groundless alarm. Indeed, the 
times were not now such as to favour anv scheme of law- 
less violence. Oliver had seated himself firmly in the 
place of supreme power, and maintained order through- 
out the land with a hand of iron. Mr. Crispe allowed his 
precaution to be relaxed, and life in Ouex resumed its 
ordinary calm. 



THI'. CRISr]<; FAMILY 



"How or by whom the mysterious warninsj had 
been conveyed to Mr. Crispe is uncertain. But it was no 
idle rumour; nor was the danger l)y any means past. 
His enemies were siniph- waiting for a convenient season 
in which to pnt their plans in pr;ictice: for a plot had ac- 
tually been arran.ged in which this unfortunate gentleman 
had been marked out as a victim, atid that plot was under 
the direction of a leader of no ordinary qualities or char- 
acter, 

"Among the daring spirits developed by the great 
civil war there was no loyalist more enthusiastically de- 
voted to the Crown, more fertile in expedient, or of more 
dashing bravery than Captain Golding of Ramsgatc. 
Had lie been a rider instead of a sailor, he would have 
been a cavalier after Prince Rupert's own heart. One of 
his exploits during the Commonwealth had been carrying 
ofT a rich merchantman, the ' Blackamoor Queen:' and 
after converting both ship and cargo into money, handing 
over the proceeds to the exiled Prince Charles, to whom 
at that time, perhaps, a proof of loyalty in no other form 
could have been so welcome. 

" Captain Golding it was who was the originator and 
moving spiirit of the plot, and as a Thanet man, the 
house of Ouex and all its surroundings were perfectly 
familiar to him. He proceeded to carry out his plans in 
due time. One night in the month of August, 1657: 
Golding with a number of resolute men, partly English 
and partly foreigners, landed unobserved at Gore-end, 



.S6 THI' HISTORY OF 

near Birchinofton-on-S'^a, and marched to Onex. So well 
did he order matters that he was able to reach it and force 
an entrance without giving any alarm to the neighbour- 
hood. None of those who had feasted on Mr. Crispe's 
good cheer were there to defend him; not a shot was fired 
through the loophole.s he had made; and his servants, 
taken by surprise, were too completely overawed and 
overpowered to offer the least resistance. The unlucky 
gentleman woke from his slumbers tiuly to find his bed 
surrounded by armed men. He was ordered to rise, and 
the horses having been put to his own coach, he was 
placed within and escorted by his captors to the beach. 
When he became aware that he was io be carried be- 
yond the seas, he made earnest entreaty to be allowed to 
take one of his own servants with him; but this was re- 
fused, though the state of his health rendered such an 
indulgence very desirable. He was thrust into an open 
boat and carried oiT to Captain Holding's ship, in wdiich 
he wa.s at once conveyed as a prisoner to the Low Coun- 
tries. 

" The abduction of Mr. Crispe of Qnex is interest- 
ing from the fact that it is a solitary case. In modern 
times it has no parallel in England. W'e have no otlier 
instance of an English gentleman of position being forci- 
bly carried off from his home in an English county, al- 
though in some other coiuitrics such affairs have by no 
means been e.xceptional. 

"The unfortunate Mr. Crispe was conveyed to Os- 



TIIK CklSI'I'; FAMILY. 



tend, and thence to Brnges, both of which places weie 
then subject to Spain, a power afjainst which tlie h'nghsh 
Commonwealth was at that time at war. No redress was 
therefore to be lioped for through the intervention of the 
Spanish Government, and indeed, as will be seen in the 
Sequel, it was in his own Government that the prisoner 
found his worst obstacle to the recovery of liberty. 
However, from his prison-house in Bruges Mr. Crispe 
was allowed to communicate with his friends, and in es- 
esjiccial to inform them that a sum of three thousand 
poiuuls would be required for his ransom. 

" Mr. Crispe had an only .son. Sir Nicholas Crispe; 
but for some reason — proliably owing to the declining 
health of Sir Nicholas — a nephew who resided not far 
from Quex, a Mr. Thomas Crispe, appears to have been 
the relative upon whose good offices the captive chiefly 
relied. This nephew at once set out for the Low Coun- 
tries. Arrived at Bruges, he found no difficulty in ob- 
taining access to his uncle, to whom indeed, apart from 
the deprivation of liberty, no ill treatment appears to 
have been offered; and after due consultation, it was de- 
termined to agree to the terms proposed. Thomas Crispe 
accordingly returned to England to arrange with his 
cousin. Sir Nicholas, the means of raising the sum re- 
quired — a far more serious matter in those days than it 
would be now — and to take whatever steps might be 
desirable to facilitate the payment of it. But the un- 
happy Squire was far from the end of his trou- 



58 THF. HISTORY OF 

blcs: an unlooked-for difficulty was about to arise. 

" \'aric)us as ma\' Ix- the advantages of standint,' well 
with both parties, it has one disadvantage — the trimmer 
can expect to be trusted b>- neither side; and so foimd 
prudent Mr. Crispe. Whilst the Royalists regarded him 
as no better than a rebel and a fit subject for spoliation, 
Cromwell, on the other hand, suspected him of collusion 
with the King's friends; that he had, in brief, been a 
consenting party to his own abduction, and that the 
whole affair had l:)een arranged to afford a colourable pre- 
text for supplying the exiled Charles with luiglish nmiiey. 
All power was now in the Protector's hands, and he caused 
an Order in Council to be issued in which any ransom 
whatever was forbidden to be paid for Mr. Crispe. 

" Between Ro>-alists and Cronuvellians the poor gen- 
tleman was indeed in an evil case. A prisoner he had to 
remain; and whilst bribes and indirect influence of vari- 
ous kinds were being employed in all promising quarters 
to obtain a revocation of the vexatious Order, matters 
were still further complicated by the death of the heir, 
Sir Nicholas Crispe. The whole burden of his uncle's 
affairs now fell upon Thomas, who appears to ha\-e shown 
most praiseworthy zeal in their management. Six times 
in the autum and winter of 1657-58 did he cross and re- 
cross the narrow .seas to confer with and console his af- 
flicted relative. 

" At last the desired license from government was 
obtained; liut the cost of obtaining it, with other neces- 



THE CRISPI' FAMILY. 59 

sarv expenses, liad so much impoverished the Crispes 
that it was no longer possible to raise the ransom without 
selling- some part of the estate. To procure from his 
uncle the nccessarv legal authorit\' for doing this in- 
volvetl another j(iuine>' to Bruges on the part of Thomas 
Crispe. liventually, hy the sale of certain lands and the 
mortgage of the estate of Stonar in the isle of Thanet, 
the money was procured and paid over. Whether any 
part of it found its way into the coffers of Prince Charles 
is a matter of conjecture merely. It was only after a 
captivit\- of eight months that Mr. Crispe was allowed to 
return to his home a free man. 

"It is recorded that after all his trouljles he again 
lived in peace at Quex for several years. He died at that 
place on the 25th of July, 1663, leaving, it is satisfactory 
to learn, his estate to that mphew who had so well done 
a kinsman's part by him. 

"It is satisfactory also to learn that Captain Golding 
closed his ailvtuterous but .somewhat dubuous career with 
honour. Whilst Cromwell lived, he took good care to 
keep beyond his reach, and remained in high favour with 
Prince Charles throughout his exile. At the Restoration 
in 1660 he returned with his master to England, and, as 
his share ot the good things at that time showered upon 
his parly, received command of the ' Diamond ' man-of- 
war. In 1665 he fell bravely in battle whilst fighting his 
ship against the Dutch frigates. 

" 111 the church of Birchington-on-Sea, of which 



THE HISTORY OF 



parish the manor of Quex forms a portion, tlicre is a 
Quex Chapel. It contains monumental brasses and other 
memorials of the lioiises of Ouekes and Crispe. Notice- 
able among them is the fine tomb of Henry Crispe. The 
bras.ses, .six in number, are to the earlier line. 

" vSince the extinction of the male line of the Crispes 
in iCiSo, Quex has had many owners. It was once pur- 
chased liy the first Lord Holland for his famous son, 
Charles James Fox. But that nol)leinan soon found him- 
self oliliged to sell it again: hence among the associations 
of Quex it is unable to number that of having ever been 
the residence of the great Whig orator and statesman." 

Additional notes of interest on this family can be 
found at the Xewlierry Library, Chicago, in the " His- 
tory of Kent," by Ireland, page 491, where upwards of 
eight pages are devoted to the Crispe Quex marriage. 
This account in part reads: 

" 'The Manor of Quexes, or Quex,' as it is often 
spelled in ancient deeds. ■ — This district occupies the 
.southeastern part of the parish, being about three-quart- 
ers of a mile from the church, having been formerly the 
seat of a family, whence it acquired its name, many of 
whom are buried within the church. This property, 
which belonged to the Quakes as early as the year 1400, 
was also possessed by the Crispes, one of which family, 
in 1650, was appointed Sheriff : but owing to his advanced 
age and infirmaties his son was permitted to execute that 




KMGlirS IN III, I. ARMOR. 




A I >-<il- ARMS AM) III. 1, Ml. I : 



rU¥. CRISPIC FAMILY. 65 

office in his stead. Tliis individual was commonly known 
by the appelation of ' Boiijoiir Crispe,' from having been 
kept for a length of time prisoner in France, during 
which period he never acquired more knowledge of the 
French than the above word. The circinnstances con- 
nected with that detenti(5n lieing rather singular, we deem 
it necessary to insert the account, which is as follows; 

" ' In August, i''57, this gentleman, during the 
night, was forcibly carried off from his seat at Quekes by 
several persons, consisting of Englishmen as well as for- 
eigners, conveyed to Bruges, in Flanders, and there de- 
tained a prisoner till the sum of /_^,ooo should be paid 
for his ransom, A few days after his arrival he sent to 
his nephew, Thomas, then residing near Quekes, desiring 
he would repair to Bruges ai:d assist him in that peculiar 
exigency. Having complied, and consulted togetlier, he 
despatched his nephew to England to unite his endeavors 
with those of his .son. Sir Nicholas Crispe, for the pro- 
curing his liberation, in effecting which they encount- 
ered great difficulty, as Cromwell, who was then Pro- 
tector, suspected the whole to be mere collusion in order 
to procure /,'3,ooo for the use of Charles II, then upon 
the Continent: wherefor an order was issued by Crom- 
well, in council, that Mr. Crispe should not be ransomed. 
Sir Nicholas in consequence died before that gentleman's 
wish was effected, when the whole management devolved 
on Thomas, the nephew, to obtain the license and raise 
the funds; which being tuiable to accomplish without 



66 THE HISTORY OF 

selling a portion of his uncle's lands, the latter empow- 
ered him and his son-in-law, Robert Darell, so ti;>do: who, 
although every despatch was resorted to, did not accom- 
plish the release of Mr. Crispe luider eight months, who 
then returned to Hngland and ended his da\s at Quekes 
in 1663.' 

" The above singular enterprise was contrived and 
put into effect by Captain Golding, of Ramsgate, a 
stannch I^oyalist, who harl sought refuge with Charles 
II in France. The ]iart>' landed at Gorend, near Birch- 
ington, and took Mr. Crispe from his bed withi^ut the 
least resistance; though it appears that apprehension of 
such an attack had been entertained and precautions 
taken to secure the mansion, the proprietor having af- 
forded hospitality to such among his neighbours who 
would lodge in his premises for the purpose of defending 
him. Mr. Crispe was then conveyed in his own carriage 
to the sea coast, where he was forced into an open boat, 
not one of his domestics being permitted to attend, al- 
though he particularly requested it as a favor. 

" Mr. Crispe died possessed of his seat, having had 
one son and a daughter, the former of whom was 
knighted, but d>in,g before his father in 1657, i' devolved 
to his daughter, who espoused Sir Richard Powle, of 
Berkshire. At this mansion of Quekes, King William 
was in the habit of residing till the winds favored his 
embarkation for the Continent; and a chamber said to 
have been the sleeping room of the royal guest used to 



THE CRISPE FAMILY. r.j 

hf shown. Duriiio; those visits the monarch's i;nai(Is 
were encamped in the adjoining enclosure. 

" Tlie mansion in question was a lar^e, commodious 
edifice, built partly of timber and brick, u]ion the sii;hl 
of which was erected the present seat, now in possession 
of J. W. Powell, l'.si[. This gentleman has also caused 
to be built two beautiftd towers, presenting very pictur- 
esipie objects: the one coutainini; a s.-t of most sonorous 
bells; the structiu'e beint; internally fitted up in a very 
beautiful manner with mahog^.-uiy st.-hr-cases, etc. The 
other tower is appropriated by its munificent owner to 
the pastime of discharges of canon, which with the peals 
of his bells constitute a favorite amusement of the gen- 
tleman in question. These towers standing contiguous 
to Rirchiiigton, and opposite to Cleeve, are perceptible in 
every direction to a great distance, and may be regarded 
as very picturesque in the embelli.shments of the Isle of 
Thanet." 

It will be of interest to all to read the will of this 
captive, and to learn of the generous consideration he 
showed to Thomas Crispe, who was the cause of his re- 
lease: I am indebted to Fred. A. Cri.spe, of London, for 
the following extract: 

"I, Henry Crispe, late of Queakes, in the Parish of 
Rirchington, within the Isle of Thanett, in the County 
of Kent: ' to be interred in the Pari.sh Church of Birch- 
ington, neare the Tombe by me erected for my wife and 
Children now departed.' 'I'nto my grand-child, Mrs. 



6S THK HISTORY OF 

Anna Crispe £ioo and such Jewells and Dimons as were 
my wife's in her life time.' An<l to my daughter, 
Thomasine Lady Crispe, her mother, I doe give my 
watch witli ye silver case, and that small dimond ring 
which I had of ye gift of ' Sir Henry Crispe, Knight, 
deceased.' Unto my beloved nephew. Lieutenant 
Thomas Crisjie, eldest sonne of my loving brother, Mr. 
Thomas Crispe, of Cant, my houses, etc., in Hirch- 
ington, knowne by the name of Queckes, late in mine 
own occupation before I was Carried away Prisiner into 
Flanders. Also lands at St. Nicholas, at Wade, neare 
I'rooksend, etc., one dllier ^mall teneinent and windmill 
in I'irchinglon, and my manor nf Stoner: leases at Sand- 
wich, and houses at Create Chart and Ashford. ISIy 
manor of Haselton, also Haiston. The same to my said 
nephew ( Tlinnias Crisjje ) and he sole owner and executor. 
Will pni\-ed, Oct. 2;,rd, 1(1(17, by Thomas Crispe." 

The Kentish Hislnric Calander, in describing the Isle 
of Thanet, refers to this Henry Crispe, and in conunent- 
ing on the Crispe-Oue.x estate, says on page 52: 

" OI'KX P.\RK 

"in which stands the manor house of Quex or Great 
Ouex, f(irmerl\- the seat of the family of that name in 
the I sth cenlur>-. The Crispes succeeded the Oucxes, 
through intermai-riage in the reign of Henry \'II. The 
old manor house was frequently- \-isited by William III, 
on his jiiurneys to and from the continent. Here Henry 
Crispe, a wealtlu' Puritan, was seized in 1657 by a Ro>'- 



THE CRISPE FAMILY. 69 

alist iiaiiied Captain Cloldint;;, who carried liiin off to 
Rnif;;cs, and dctaine'd liini there until he paid a ransom of 
/,-^,oo(i. He was coninionly called 'Boiijoiir Crispe' from 
his Tie\er learning more of iM'ench r.broad than those two 
words, which it is probable he freijnenth' misapp.lietl. In 
thi.' park stand two eleL;ant tovvers: rme of which contains 
a line peal of tweUe lielles. The ])resent owner is Hor- 
ace I'oweli Cotton, l';sc|." 

Leltcrs of Stejihen Charlton to Sir R. Le\'eson, Lon- 
don, ^jlh Rejiort, pa-e I'lS, speaks of this incident: 

" Jiil\' 25, 1657. There came this week from Dun- 
kirk shallo]>s which landed a ])art\- of Musketeers upon 
the Island of Thanet and went to a kiiii^ht's house ( Crispe) 
not farolT the sea, and plundered liis house and took from 
him a matter of iy>" /. in money and carried the Knip;lit 
awa\' with them: and they would lia\e taken his eldest 
sou and his w ife also ( if it had not ) l)een that he en.cap;ed 
upon his honor to cause £1,000 to lie sent to them to 
Brui^^es within a certain time for his ransom. Meantime 
they have taken the Knight for security till the money be 
paid. It is su])])osed that they were most of them Kn- 
glishmen. 

Tile Royal Heralils visited the Island of Thanet carl\- 
in the i6th centiu'y anil in their rej/oit to the King and 
parliament said in part; 

'' It appears that the following distinguished fami- 
ies have at dillerent ])eriods been residents in the Isle of 
Thanet Cle\brooke, i,=i74, i6i;). Petit, of Dandelion: 



THI-; HISTORY OF 



Jcihnsoii, (if Xetlier Court; Tc^hcIk-, of Bircliiiij;lon. i6nj; 
Cnrliiiu. ol Th;iiiet; Xorlhw ooil , nf I ):inL- Court ; IIart>-, 
of Hircliiiii^toii; SpracklN n, of St. Lawix-iR-L-; Cri^]''.-, of 
Olickcs and Clixx- Court; I'araiiKjr, of St. Xicliola.s; Satin- 
(lcr>, ofSt. Lawrence; Mason, of Monkton." Irekind 
llistorx of Kfut Couiit> , l'a,L;e 4(14. 

The IKiakK \'isilation in Kent -ranted to tile Crispe 
farnil) in 1374. the folkjwini; fainil\ Coat-of-Anii>; the 
co]i\ of tliis .^rant is taken from tile Heralds Colle.i^e, 
London, and reads as follows ; 

■ 'Laniine' , a 'fess' ehei|U\ 'ardent,' and 'salile,' 
i|tiarterin;; 'nr' on :i elu.voni sjlile,' fi\c- horsi.-,hi ,es . ,f 

the lilM 

In M'l.) we lind that llu k..y;d llelahU i^ranted 
the tainil\ a Cre.st as follows: ■ Crest, a eaiiiel leopard, 
'Ar-ent pallettee collared and lined 'or.' " 

When the famous Sir Henr\ Crispe was knighted 
we learn the Kiiii; ecjiiferred on tile famih' the ri,i;lit of 
decorating the faniil>- elision with llie helmeiit of a 
Kni.i;llt, and the Colle.-e of Herahls was instructed U> 
render a motto, which llie\- <lid and reads: " Duin 
Tempiis Halienius Perenuir Iloiiiuii." This coat-of- 
aniis, in its e\ol\-ed character, is well repieseiited in the 
liook-plates of Sir John Crispe. In connection with the 
L;raiitiii.t; of coats-of-arms to the Crispe fainil\' a coiii- 
miinicatioii from the Honorable Walliani W'iiule, a rela- 
ti\e of the Cris])e family in a comnumication to the (icii- 
tleman's .\Lii;a/iiie ( I S47 — \dlume 1, pa.nx.- soS ) speaks 



Till'. CRISI'I': FAMILY 



of a <;ranl of anus to the Crisjics, and this ensis;!! is 
sUl^IuIv cliffen-nl to thiuiK-s ])ix\iously Liii]iloyc(l, and 
indicates tlial a ixlatiunship 1]\- niairiaL;e exists liL-tween 
thi- Crispe ])i.iiple and ("icaKial de Zldcslcin, first I'",arl of 
kockford and Ljiandson of lKnr\, I'linee of ( )ran.>;L'. The 
arliele li\ Winde read^ a- follows : 

"HofSK oi' Ass]■;MBI.^■, 
" .MoNTKHAL, Canada. April io, 1S47. 
" Mk. I'ki'.an : 

A> one of the oldest of a line of readers of the Cien- 
llenian's .MaL;a/ine for tlnee generation--, my i;randfather 
eonmieneed hi- >iili-eiiptii in in the \ear 174'', I take 
t he liln I ly nf -,r<.k in^; in !' pnn.il !■ rii iln. in'_;h il- e. .1 nniii- . ai 
a ipie>tii Jii III -i.-nealii- \ 

1 am ellj;a<;ed in nseaiehe- i m llie pedi-L;Ke and 
arms of the ancient fannh- of Cri-pi-, of Uneckes anil 
(."li\e Court, in Thanet.Co. Kent, and of l\()>lon ChajRl, 
in I.enh.nu in the same eount\ . 

" laoui iIk- Crispe- of R<jylon Cha]iel m\' deseint is 
clear and indespnialile on the parental side. ni>- paternal 
grandmother h.ixiii;.; been a ISelcher of Field F'arni, in 
lv}.;erton and I'leondi. Co, Kent, and her mother a Crispe 
of koNtiin Chapel, si-ter of the late Willi. mi Crispe. I'lscp, 
m\ 5;ri-al mule who died issut'less. seized in fee of the 
estate of Roy toll in the year ij(-'2. 

"This aforesaid William Crispe married the sister of 
my ureat i;randfather ]5eleher. and thus the families of 
Crispe and lieleher became united by a dotibk- marriage. 



72 TH'-, HISTORY OF 



" The Belchers of ITlcomb, Co. Kent, were three 
brothers — Peter, my great grandfather, afterwards of 
Field Farm in Ivgerton, Samuel and Stringer, the first of 
no profession; the second, Sanuiel, a physician, and 
Stringer, the rector of Ulcomb. 

" They were originally of Gilsbororigh, county 
Northampton and their family arms: Or, thjce j.ales 
gules, a chief of vaire, which arms are engrav?d en the 
plate derived by inheritance from my great gra.idfather, 
Peter Belcher aforesaid. 

" The arms of Crispe, of Queckes and ("live Court 
in Thanet, county Kent, are thr)sc of Sir Hjnry Crispe 
of Queckes, Kent, temp. Henr\- \'III. lar.iiiie, n fess 
chequy arg. and sable, (|nartering or. on a ..'.levorn 
sable five horseshoes of the first. 'Another coat of Crispe, 
Crest a camel-leopard arg. pellettee, collared ■.•iid liiied 
or.' In all the arms of the Crispes of Kent the crest is 
camel leopard, except in one instance which I ha. e re- 
cently seen in a work entitled, 'The Book of Cre.-ts,' 
volumes I and II anonymous, published l)y Heniy Wash- 
burne, I^ondon. 

" This book gives the crest of Crispe, volniiie !I, 
plate 39, No. 2S, as 'the attires of a stag issuing out i-f 
a ducal coronet all ppr. ' 

" Your heareldic readers will recognize this crest as 
that of Nassau dc Zulestein, first Earl of Rochford, temp. 
William III; and of Nassau, Prince of Orango, of whom 
General de Zulestein, first Farl of Rochford, Vv-as the 




HENRY CKISl'E. 
(I'risdiuT in Klanders.) 




HENRY CKisri;, rUISONER, 
(Bruges, FLiiuk-rs.) 



Till-: CRISI'K I'AMILV. 



jjraiulson In- a natural son of Henry, Prince of Orange. 
' Debritt's Peerage, London, 1S24.) 

" The information that I seek is, to what branch of 
the Crisjie family does the crest mentioned by the anony- 
nujus author belong? Under wliat circumstances, and 
li\- whom was it granted? 

" At a distance of 4,000 miles from this source of 
direct evidence, and ha\'ing only I'.dmondson & Burke 
wilhotU ju-digrees to refer to, I fintl nothing to enlighten 
mv I III this sul)ject, atid am therefore compelled to crave 
the assistance of those who, with the abilitv, may have 
inclination to aid me in my in(|niries. 

" I further observe that there is a tradition in the 
Crispe family, of Royton, Co. Kent, a curious piece of 
secret history respecting the Orange Ma.ssue family, to 
which this very crest points, ami which more particular 
research concerning it will enable me to elucidate and 
exjilain. 

" Should any of your learned genealogical readers do 
me the favor to notice this counnunication and give the 
information I desire, I shall, ( D. \'. ) at a future period, 
give a memoir of the ancient family of Crispe from the 
time of Henr\' \'II, when John Crispe married Agnes, 
only daughter and heiress of John Quekes, to the present 
period. 

" The Crispes appear as sheriffs of Kent, with the 
Scptvans, Guilfords, Diggeses, Darells. etc.. (Vide Full- 
er's Worthies, \'ol. I, pp.515 notei and in Londiarde's 



TH]': HISTORY OF 



Perambulations of Kent, are also the names of suche of 
the nobilitie and gentrie as the heralds recorded in their 
visitations A. D. 1574, including vS>t Heiir>' Crispe and 
William Crisjie. Jolui Crispe was sheriff of Kent, loth 
Henry \"III; Henry Crispe, his son ditto 3S Henry \'ni, 
Nicholas Crisi)L-, his son ditto ist Ivlizabeth 1 \'ide Fuller 
ut Supra). M>- edition of Lombard i'^ that inqirinted at 
London for Ralph Nevvberie, dwelling in Fleete-street, 
a little aboute the Conduit, arms 157'!. 

"It is that so highl\- applauded by Camden, and 
other chief judges in such matters, and I was furtunate 
enough to olHain it at the sale of the lil)rar\- of the late 
Mr. Justice Fletcher, formerly judge in this province, 
who was himself a nati\-e of Kent. 
" Yours etc. . 

" \\'n,i.iA:M W'lXDK, 

"(Crispe relative V' 

The foregoing letter indicates the close relations 
which the Crispe family held to the regal elements of 
England, atid it also portrays the fact that the Crispe 
people were men of nffairs, in that the\' held in their 
famil\- the office of sheriff of Kent. This office in England 
is one of greatest importance, and not oidy nuist the per- 
son seeking this high place of honor, stand well in the 
estimation of the .sovereign, but the candidate must be 
the largest land-owner in the county in which he seeks 
to be sheriff. 

The Crispe peojile held tliis honorable station in the 



TlIIv CRISI'I': I'AMILV 



county of Keiil. the richest and most heautifnl portion of 
I'jii^land, for a trt-neration an<l a half. 

'l"he will of Sir IK-nry Crisjie, of Oueks hut i)ar- 
tially (lenic iUstrates tht- effuence of lluse early Crispe peo- 
]ik-, ami I append a few extracts from this lengthy docu- 
ment in teslininne of the statement that these people 
were men of inllnenee and im])ortance in earl>' history 
of Ivngland. 

CRISI'li — KIXC, or TIIANKT 

"I, Sir Henry Ciispe of the Peiisli of IhrchiiiLTlcni, in 
the Isle of Thanet, in the Conntv of Kent, Knij^ht: to he 
buried in the I'erish church of I')irchini,'ton, niijh unto 
Kather\iie, my wile. 'I'o Jnhn Crispe all ni\' household 
stuff l)elonj.jini:; to m\- house at Queakes, and all my ap- 
parell and plate with all nu' 'Armor' and 'Weapon.' I 
will that m\- wife shall ha\-e all m\- Lands and Tenements 
in l-"ensham, I'reslnnand ()sprinj;e and my Laiul called 
Slepers. and my Land in Seasalter and Hendiill, these 
to (ieorge. m\- sonne. To my wife all my lands in Kmn- 
ney Marsh. And m\- house and lands called Little Btick- 
land. And my lands callc-d Miles in the perrish of St. 
Nicholas. To my wife my Lands ami Tenements at 
Mynster, and my tenements and Lands called Pulses, until 
I'/hvard, my somie. comes of the a.ije of 21, then the same 
to him. To my wife other lands in Hothe, and at Wade 
and at Rushhourne, and my Wood and Land at Chistlate 
and at Heme: also Lands at Whitstaple. To John Crispe, 
to luKvard Crispe, to Henry Crispe and to George Crispe, 



So THK HISTORY OF 

my soniies, an interest in my Manner at Grayes, and my 
wliole right and interest tliat I have in Stoneharde 
Marshe and tlie tenement lately built at Woodchurche 
and Free School. To my wife the Land and tenement at 
Svvakelxf. To nn- sonne John, my estate at Oueakes and 
Cheseman's, and ni\- other land in the Isle of Thanet not 
before given, and nn- house at Tankerton and the land 
thereto belonging. To Ivlizabeth Baker ni>- tenement 
called D()\vne Hi>use. To John my sonne the Mill & the 
ground it staudeth on. Will pro\-eil Nov. 5th, io75- " 

41 Pickering. 
This will contains innumerable grants of gold coin 
and other \-aluable assets, but I simply digested from this 
exceedingly- lengthy testament the disposition of his lands 
and tenements. This gentleman owned so much propert}- 
and took such an interest in the history of Thanet that 
he was styled by all who knew him, and the historians 
as well, as the " King of Thanet. " It would be exceed- 
ingly difficult to place a valuation on liis possessions, but 
it is a part of the records of the Dominion State Papers, 
of the (rovernment, that he was the wealthiest citizen of 
Kent count\-. He was not infrequentl\- required to loan 
money to the Royal Coffers, and was also commanded to 
raise troops and take charge of the coast defense. The 
facts relating to his relations with the military division of 
the government I copied from the State papers and in 
the reference to be made later in this book, I quote vol- 
ume and page. 



THE CRISPE FAMILY. 



Sir Heiirj- Crispe was the owner of an Aljbott's Lodge, 
near Reculver, a brief description of which is given in 
Ireland's history of Kent, page 414, as follows: 

" The Demesnes of this Manor and Park of Chistlet 
have been demised by the jirimates on lieneticial leases, 
liis grace, howe\X'r, retaining the Manor in his own hands, 
(Archbishop of Canterbury). Scarcely any remains are 
left of the abbot's lodge, excc])t an arched gateway. The 
Manor of Gra>'s, or (^res, at the northeastern boundary 
of the i>arish, near Recuh'er, was, at the dissolution, 
granted by the name of the manor of Cira>s, otherwise 
Coppinhealh. to Christoplier Hales, Master of Rolls, 
wliose three daughters sold it t<i Thomas Colepeper, Esq., 
of Bedgebnrg. V>y the latter it was alienated, some time 
after, to Henr\- Crispe. I'^scj., of Qnckes, afterwards 
knighted, in wlmse line it remained until 1757, when it 
went by marriage to Capt. John Ivllioit, afterwards rear 
admiral, of Copford, in Ivssex. 

THK CKISPE CHARITY FARM 

The youngest child of Thomas Crispe, of Quex, was 
Miss Ainia Ciertan\ Crisjie, who was known to be a most 
charitable person. She was especially interested in the 
poor of Thanet. and did much to give them comfort. In 
1678 she donated fort% -sexen fertile acres to the poor of 
Birchington. She erected a number of beautiful alms- 
hou.ses on the acreage, and the place is known as the 
Crispe Charity Farm. The peculiar part about this alms- 
house, is the fact that "any person who cannot produce 



82 THE HISTORY OF 

sufficient to earn a livelihood, shall be privileged to come 
to this farm and lie allowed to labor, and receive during 
their stay, three good meals a day and all the comforts 
of a home." 

The buildings which she had erected are still in ex- 
cellent condition, and as Mar\' \'inson writes : 

"We lateh- saw tile substantial rows of almshouses 
at the Crispe CharitN- Farm. The buildings are likely to 
remain for two centuries more. 

This farm is kept up from large sums of nioney, 
which Anna dertany Crispe so willed as to secure the 
principal, and the interest is donated to the expense ac- 
count of the farm. 

Additional >tatements of her will follow when con- 
sidering the monuments to the Crispe family of Ouex. 

NOTES FROM STATE P.\PERS. 

The following notes appear in the Royal Dominion 
State papers of the Kings and Queens of Ivn gland, con- 
cerning the Crispe famih- at Ouex : 

"April 4. Sir H. Jernegan informs the nueeti that he has 
committed the Isle of Thanet to Crispe. (Queen 
Mary, \'ol. .S, No. S5 ). 

"April S. Sir H. Jernegan informs Queen Mar\- that he 
has connnitted the coast defense to Sir Henry 
Crispe, Mr. Kempe and Mr. Tynche. ( Dom. S. P. 
Mary, Vol. 12, No. 64). 



Tin', CRISI'I'. FAMILY. 83 



1559 
'March. Sir Henry Crispin's letter to Thomas Wotton 
tuuchins Iraiuiiiilly of the realm, and is .sent to Ceal 
OH imjiortanl business. iD, S. V. FM/... \'o\. 3, 
No. 1^1. 

'September;,. Sir Henry Cris[)e is appointed by Queen to 
attend the Lady Cecilia, at Dover, at her arrival 
in England. Cecilia, the daughter of the King of 
Sweden, and wife of Christopher of Baden. (,Dom. 
S. P. Ivlizabeth, Vol. 37. No. 2S). 

'June 14. Sir Henry Crispe returns from his survey of 

Queen's Castle Forts of 5 Ports. (Dom. S. P. 

Klizabeth. \'ol. 46, No. 77). 
1373 
'June 22. .Sir Henry Crispe was counciled in regard to 

al)le-bodied men for muster. (Dom. S. P. VMza- 

beth. \'ol. 91 . No. 55 '< . 
i6r4 
'Sir Henry Crispe, (11) 1614, Oct, 12-13. Sir Henry 

Cri.sjie appears in Muster Roll as liable to furnish 

four corslets, four muskets and two Light horses. 

( Doni. S. P. James I, \'ol. 7S, No. 32). 
1627 
"June 22. F"or one week Lieutenant Chaunbell and John 

Little were billited upon Sir Henry Cri.spe. (Dom. 

S. P. Charles \. Vol. 113, No. 59). 



THF. HISTORY OF 



1627 
March 13. Sir Henry Crispe writes for the Lord War- 
den's ccininiission to call together soldiers of St. 
Johns, Birchingtoii. Wood and Sarre, whom, by 
warrant dated sstli July last, he appointed to 
command: and he seeks power to appoint officers. 
(Letter to King Charles I, D. S. P., Chas. i, vol. 
95, No. 82 )." 
In the history of " Isle of Thanet," page 49, occurs 
this paragragh regarding 15irchington and vicinit>': 

" The name 'West-gate-' explains itself, being a wa}' 
or approach to the sea-shore, west of Margate, and the 
district has been so called from the time of Egbert. In 
Hasted it is recorded that this manor was held by Robert 
de Westgate, temps Henry III., Sir Henry de Sandwich 
afterwards held it in trust for Robert, the former's j-outh- 
ful son and heir. Lewis, in his history of Thanet, de- 
scribes it as a little manor htld by William deLeybourne, 
in the reign of Edward the II,, whose grand-daughter, 
Juliana de Le}-bourne, ( after sur\-iving two hu.sbands, 
John de Hastings, brother of the Earl of Pembroke, and 
William de Clinton, Earl of Huntington), left the same 
to the Abbey of St. Austin near Canterl)Ury. After the 
dissolution of this Abbey, by Henry the \'III., the manor 
in question often changed owners until it came into pos- 
.session of Sir Nicholas Cri.spe, of Quex, near Birchingon, 
then of the late Mr. Edward Taddy, and ultimately of the 
present owner. There is a very interesting tradition, or 



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ROOM IN OLD (ilKX MANSION. 
iK.irly ill tlir 171I1 Ci.-nliiry.) 



Till': CklSPli I'AMII.V. 



nioukisli lL-,L,a-n(l, coiuiected with VVestj;ate, which we re- 
late ill our account of Minster." 

The (lescri]>tiiiii of the ])arish of liirchiiigtoii occurs 
on pajje 52, of the Keiili--h Historical Calendar, as follows: 

"The Parish Church, iledicated to All Saints', is of 
5Xreat aye and is well worthy a \isit. (>iie ]iectiliar 
fc-ature is the ]iosition of the tower which stands at the 
northeast anylc: it is sunuouuted hy a shini;led s]>ire 
which is ser\iceal)le to shippiiii;- on their way from the 
Thames to the Xorth I"orelaiid. The Church contains 
brasses to John h'elde, 140-1; John He>ins, vicar 1 re]-ire- 
sentetl ele\atiii>; llic host, 1 152S; and se\-eral others to the 
QiK-x and Crispc families dating from 1449 to 1533. The 
north Chancel huloii'^s to the ancient scat in this parish 
called ntiL-.\, and in it are se\-eral famil>' monuments. 
The loml) and memorial window of Koselli, the painter 
and poet, are objects of interest. The Queen's Jubilee 
has been commemorated 1>\' the restoration of the spire; 
the re-hanginc^ the bells, and an addition of a sixth bell, 
also by the erection of a clock in the tower, presented by 
Major liell." 

CRISPE MONfMKNTS AT OfKX. 
The nionuments and br.isses which were cxecuteil for 
the Crispe famih- at Quex have attracted the attention of 
the art students and sculptors for some time, but of late 
the sculptural world has sriven these architectural monu- 
tnents considerable notice. Few things which our fore- 
fathers ha\'e left us seem to describe their features or 



90 THJv HISTORY OF 

dress, since the art of photogra]ihy was to them unknown, 
and word-pictures were too often unrehahle. The pro- 
(hictions of tile brush in early times were indeed excel- 
lent; but t!!e>- too freijuenth- did not have the endurinj;- 
qualities, and were in the course of a j^eneration found 
sjioiled or destroyed. Onl>- the elite of the 14th century 
and those of means were able to pa\' the prices of por- 
traiture Work, and hence man>' of the faces of olden ])eo- 
ple are not preserved. The cost of ha\in.t; monuniental 
cffi,tjies, as the>- were called in the 15th cenlur>', ]iro- 
duced, involved an enormous outlay of monew and few, 
sa\'e the Kings, Queens and those innnediatel\' associated, 
could claim sufficient attention to invite the sculptural 
genius of those times to reproduce ni stone, marble or 
metal the image of either living <ir dead. 

Not in all Kngland can be foiuid such magnificently 
executed monumental images of distinguished personages 
as those erected to the Crispe family of Ouex. 

Reverend Charles Rontell, who is a recognized au- 
tliorit\' of these productions, says of these designs: "Till 
recently these monumental effigies were mere antiquarian 
curriosities, but the\' await the formation of a just esti- 
mate of their true worth as face portraiture. Observant 
students of monumental efSgies a.ssuredly will not fail to 
appreciate the singular felicity with which the mediae\-al 
scul]itors adjusted their compositions to the recumlient po- 
sition. Equally worthy of regard is the manner in which 
these monumental effigies arc found to have assumed an 



Till': ckisri'; family. ^i 

aspect ' iieillK-r lixing or lifeless, aiul yet iinpressi\-ely 
litV-1ike.- ■■ 

It would he (lifTicult to de^ciihe these iiieiiiorial moii- 
tiiiieiits, and so I ha\'e at coiisiilerahle cost ordered them 
]ili()tot;Ta]>hed, and I am indebted to h'red. A. Crispe, of 
I.omlon, for these heantifiil reprcJtUiclions of the Crispe 
monnments at Quex. It would ha\-e been simjiler ami 
less costly to eii';Ta\-e them, hut the half-tone process 
would not retain iIk- minute lines and delicate design. 
What the CL1SI of these monnments has heen would be 
diflu'ult to determine, hut experts have estimated that 
man\- thousands of ]>(nmds were ex])ended in their exe- 
cution. 

MO.NT.MKNT NO. I. 

Against the north wall of the Ouex cha]iel is a mon- 
unK'nt with six tablets, i-ach surmounti-d by a l)Ust. 

On the first tablet: 

"Sir Henry Crispe, Knight, married his first wife 
Marie ye daughter of Sir I'Alward Moniii.gs of Walde- 
shier. near Dover, b\- whom he had noe issue. She died 
A. D. ir„>(.." 

On tlu' second tablet the inscrijuion is in Latin, but 
relates to Henry Crispe, who died in ifisi. 

On the third tablet: 

"Sir Henry Crispe, of Quakes. Knight: married 
Ann. the daughter of Thomas Xex'inson, of Eastrie, 
}\s([. . for his second wife, 1)\- whom he had no issue. 
She died Anno 1629." 



riUi HISTORY OF 



On the fourth tablet: 

"John Crispc, Ksq., sonne of Sir Henry Cris]ie, 
Knight: first married Margret, the daughter of Tlionias 
Harlackenden, who left noe issue, and iHed A. D. 1376." 

On the fiftli tablet: 

" Neere this lielh interred the l)odies of Sir Henry 
Crispe, of Ouecks, Knighted, & of John Crispe, Esij., 
his Sonne and heir lA Sir Henry Crispe, of Ouecks, 
Knight. The onely sonne of John Crispe aforesaid. Sir 
Henrw the grand-father, married first one of the daugh- 
ters of Thomas Scott, of Scott's Hall., Ks<]., and by her 
had issue of onely one sonne, who married sole daughter 
of ye Lorde Cheyney &: died without issue. Sir Henry 
married also for his second wife Ann, the daughter of 
John Haselhurst, K^({.. by whom he left fower sonnes 
and two daughters, and died A. D. 1575." 

On the .sixth tablet: 

"John Crispe, Esq., married for his second wife 
Elizabetli, daughter of Thomas Roper, of Eltam, Esq., 
and by her had issue, one sonne, and she died A. D. 
1626." 

The first taljlet has above it the bust of Mary Mon- 
ing, first wife of Sir Henry Crispe. 

The second tablet has aliove it the bust of vSir Henry 
Crispe. 

The third tablet has abo\'e it the bust of Ann Nevi- 
.son, second wife of Henry Crispe. 

The fourth tablet has above it the bust of Margret 



THI{ CRISPI-; FAMILY 



Ilarlackcndcn, the first wife of John Crispe. 

The fifth tahlet has ali(i\-(.- it the hiist of John Crispe. 

Tlif si.xtli tablet lias al)0\-e it the bust of Elizabeth 
Koper, second wife of John Crispe. 

MONfMHNT NO. 2. 

On the south wall of the south chancel are the fig- 
ures of IIenr\ Cri>])e antl Mar>-, his wife, liehind which 
are se\'eral images. These elTigies are in Puritanic dre^s 
.and are in a praxerful .attitude. The coat-of-anns of the 
Cris])e family is in several places on the nicinunient. Be- 
tween the two figures can be •^eeii tlu' following inscri]i- 
tion; 

" Here lieth \e liodie of Marie Crispe, eldest datigh- 
ter of Sir Anthony Colepep\r, of Bedgeboerie, descended 
of ye Honorable Faniilie of ye Lorde Daces. She mar- 
ried Henry Crispe. of Ouex, Fsrp, and h.ad ]\\ him fower 
sonnes, y'u.: Nicholas. Henry, .\nthony and Henr\-, and 
one daughter, viz: Ann. of which Nicholas and Henry 
onl\- sur\ i\-e there mother, whoe dejiarted this life Octo- 
ber 3, .\o Dni i(>i,s, Aetatis S\-ae, 34." 

.MONTMKNT NO. ;, . 

In the north cha])el of Quex Ch.apel, against the 
north wall, i- a monument divided into three talilets sep- 
arated b\- two ]iillars. In the upper ])art of each tablet 
is a shield of arms of the Crisjie and Denne families. 
On the first of tliese tablets are these words: 

'■ Here lieth the body of Sir Nicholas Crispe. of 
Quex, Knight, who died No\-ember, 1(157. He was ye 



94 TH]{ HISTORY OF 

only son of Henry Crispe. of Quex, Esq., who died 1663. 
Near this place also lies ye body of Henry Cris]ie, h^q., 
fornierh- of Dover, Cousin Cierniain to ye aliove Sir 
Nicholas Crispe; he died lAjS. He was recei\-er of the 
subsidy outwards of London, An. i'\S'>, and afterwards 
comptroller of the customs at Doxer." 

( )n tile second tablet: 

"To the meinor\- of I)ame Ann I'owle, only dau>jh- 
ter and heiress of Sir Nicholas Crisjie, of Ouex, Esq., 
Kni.nht, and relict of Sir Richard Rowle, Kni-ht, of Bath. 
She died 21 Dec. 171:17, leaving issue one son, John Powle, 
of Lincoln's Inn., Ivsci., who died unmarried 2\ Feb. 
1740, whose- liody lies here interred. H>- his death all 
his mother's estates in this county of Kent are jiursuant 
to her deeds <]f settlement descended to Henry and 
Thomas Crispe, of \e Custom House of London, only sur- 
viving branch in ye male line of this ancient name and 
family, b>- whom this UKinunient was erected A. D. i 744.' ' 

( »n the thinl tablet: 

" Here lies interred ye liody of Thomasine, daughter 
<jf Thomas Denne. of Dennehill, b!s(|., and wife of Nich- 
olas Crispe, of Quex, who departed this life March, 
1679." 

On the ba.sc of the first tablet: 

"The Re\erend Henr\- Crispe, son of the abo\-e 
Henr> Crispe, of Doxer, who was Rector of Catton, near 
York, and died there r;, I''eby, 1736, leaving issue male 
only Henr\- and Tliom.is Cris]ie, Esqrs." 



THE CRISPE FAMILY. 95 

On the base of tlic second tablet; 

" Tile abo\'e named HeTir>' Crispe, Ksq., was Regr. 
of Certificates iS; Examiner (jf Delientures in the Ctistom 
House, Lnndon. He niairied Mary, relict of Le\'in 
ClioliiiIe\-, I';sc|.,and dieil without issue 15 Oct., 1747. 
In liiiii was sluwii that jxilite literature and e\'en poetical 
tjeiiius b( St from Ur' man of business." 

On the base of the third lalilet: 

"Here lieth interred the Imdy of Thomas Crispe, 
Es<|., who de])artL-d this life the 2nd of Jaiiuar}', 1757. 
A^e.! 62. 

MONrMI':NT NO. 4. 

.\u .altar toml) of a Crispe and his wife (a Scott) 
with recumbent effi,i,des of husband and wife. These fi";'- 
ures are well executed, though the\- have suffered uuicli 
injurw In iiuarterfoils 011 the fnjiit of the tomb are four 
shields bi.-ariii.i; the fnlliiwing coats; 1st, on a shexTon 
fiN'e horse-shoes — Crispe; 2nil, Crispe; ,^rd, Scott; 4tli, 
Crispe. The tomb is that of Henr>' Crispe, of Ouex, 
and hi-^ wife, Katheriie Sditl. 

:\I()XrMlvNT NO. 5. 

Ill the iiorlli Ouex cha])el, atjaiiist tlu' north wall, is 
a iiiouiinieiit surmounted by a bust, iaxt which are the 
arms of the Cri--pe faiiiilw 

The moniuiRut contains llie followin.a; inscription; 

"M. S. ( Momniieiital Souxcnir) of Anna Gerteny 
Crispe, fourth dau>;liter, and one of the co-heirs of 
Thomas Crispe, of nuex, blsq. She li\ed an examjile of 



96 TH]': HISTORY OF 



Piety & Charity; dyed March ye 23d, 170S, nuich la- 
mented. By will dated Feb>- ye 13, 1707, Devised to 
overseers of the ' Poor of Birchington <S: vill of Acole,' 
and their successors forever, 47 acres of Land in Hirch- 
insjton & Mfjnkton; then in lease at iS/" per ami in trust 
to iia\- to ICllen Window for life. 3/' t" the Clerk of the 
jiarish \earl\-. 20 s. tn keep clean the isle and monu- 
ments Belon.^int; to the Crispe-Ouex. To 3/,' to widow.s 
of Kirchington. 3/. to two willows of Acole. 2£. ffir 
wearing apperal to appear at church. To keep at school 
with dame oi' master 12 l)oys and girls ..S: to take yearly 
10 s. to dispose the remaining money for l)inding a 
school ho}- apprentice, that the overseers fix up a yearly 
acciiunt of recei])ts and ])a>-ments. and ]iiss tlie same lie- 
fore a Justice of the Peace. This monument imrsuant to 
the will erected Viv I^'rances Wiat, (wife of lidwin Wiat, 
of Boxley, serg. of Law) her sister and Executrix." 

OTHER MONTMRXTS. 

There are upwards of fifteen other beautiful monu- 
ments to the Crisiie family in this, the Ouex, chajiel, but 
s])ace will not ailmit of their ajijx-arance in this book. 

The impijrtance of this familv and the incidents 
connected with their lives has attracted the playright and 
prict . 

The Chicago Daily News of Thursday, August i, 
i,S<n), under a (piadra-title, speaks of the dramatization 
of the eventful career of one of the Crispe-Quex people 
as follows: 

















t KI.M'K MOM \ll N 1 Ml. i. 



i 




_ ;i:i :irpi II |,- 

>W felt' 



4^^ 



K\>V\ Ml i\I Ml.N I Ni 




CKIM'I' MiiM MINI Ml ;, 




CKISIM Ml )M Nil N I Ml 



THIC CRISl'l'; FAMILY. 



'■ ANCIKNT FA:\IILV OK OUKX. 

" SiRxx-ssfiil Play b\- Pincro Now Running in London 
Rt-vi\-cs Interest in a Famous Name — But Few Rel- 
ics Now Remain — Romance of One of the Race 
Who Was Captured and Held for Ransom 
— House is Not \'er>- Pictures(|ue. 



" One of the great London successes this s])ring has 
been Pinero's Jilax-, ' The ("■ax- Lord Oiiex,' and it is 
prnmised the drama is to be brnnght to this couiitr>-. 
Sax's a writer in the Sketch: ' While The Gay Lord 
Ouex has din'ing the bright summer weallier been draw- 
ing crowds to the theater in Newcastle street, I have 
been staying in that iiuiet corner of Kent where once the 
ancient family of Quex i fmm whom perchance that very 
up-to-date nobleman at the Olobe may in Mr. Pinero's 
imagination be descended ' were lords of broad acres and 
a stately home. Of the Ouex family to-day but little re- 
mains in the Isle of Tlianet. save the demense of which 
they were masters, a few of the rooms of the old early 
Tudor house, with its long facade, gabeled and cloistered, 
a stone :;nd brass or two in the Ouex chapel in Birching- 
ton church, and the molderiug bones of many of a Quex 
who. doubtless, though now unrecorded, sleeps the long 
sleep beneath it. 

" The house where the Que.x once reigned is de- 
scribed bv one old-world chronicler as a large building 



TIIJ'; HISTORY OF 



composed parlh' of timber and l;irick and in its ancient form 
il was a jilace of importance till, at any rate, the close of 
the last century. The earliest Ouex of whom I could 
find a record was one John Ou>'ek, as he is descrilied in 
certain old documents, who in 141 5 was a man of mark 
in Rin,t;slo hundred. The family name is, of course, 
spelt in half a dozen different ways, and one notes a Joan 
Queyk and a Richard Quek, as well as the John Onyek 
referred to, within a space of hut a few short years. The 
brass in the Huex chapel is in memory of Johan Onex, 
who died in ()ctober, 1550; il is a full lenL;th figure, in 
good condition, and is jirobably that (if the John Onyek 
of 1415. What, one ma\- wonder, were the arms i if this 
honorable famil\'^ They are nrit found in the Quex 
chapel; liut, as the Crispes, one of whom married the 
sole sur\-i\dr and heiress of the Quekes in 14.SS, quart- 
ered in the place of honor on their shield a chequ>' fess 
on an ermine field, we ma>' with prolialiility conclude that 
these were the Oue.x arms, and this theory is certainly 
supported 1)\- the fact that <Juek is an old Kentish name 
for the game of checkers, which was played tipon a 
black-and-white board, and punning was, we know, a 
somewhat fa\'orite jiastime with the heralds. 

"The old Quex house, its charming park, its broad 
fields and its ancient rights and honors, passed, as I have 
said, b\ marriage tu a Crispe, <if (Oxfordshire. This' 
John Crispe had a <lescendant, son or grandson. Sir 
Henrv, who won much honor and distinction in Thanet, 



THE CRISPE FAMILY. 103 

be-iiig-, indeed, styled its Kine;. He went to his own 
place in 1575. and lies in etTi<;\- with his .spouse (his sec- 
ond wife, 1 think ) carved in stone on a Tudor tomb in the 
old Onex cliapel. .\ Crispe with a strain of the old Quex 
blooil in him w.is ;i curious fii^ure in the next century. 
Abciut him there is a well authenticated story which re- 
minds one of d'.\rtat;nan and (kneral Monk in Le \'i- 
comte de lhai;elonne. He was kidnaped by a certain 
C.iiUain ("foldin.i;^ of KamsLjate, and carried to Holland, 
where Charles II. w.is then in e.xile. Here he remained 
for three years awaiting the ])a>inent of n ransom of 
Si 5.000. I'ur all this wearv lime Cromwell refused 
to [)erniit his fannl\ to make the ])a\nient. believing that 
the mone\- was demanded for the benefit of the royal ex- 
ile. At length, assent was tniwillingly given, a portion 
of the Cris])e estate was sold, the ransom was paid, and 
tile \ictim returned, luu'ing learned, it is said, two 
foreign words, and two only — lion jour — and Ron Jour 
Ciis])e he was called to the end of his days, A former 
Crispe, by the way, Richard of Clea\-e, near Minster, 
was CajHain of the Kent Li.ght Horse at the time of the 
Armada scare. He married a I'aramore ( a very ancient 
Thanel family this). 

" The manor of Qtiex, as I have said, still remains: 
but the Ouexes are gone; so are the Crispes, who suc- 
ceeded them. The W'yats have held Quex since then, 
and so have some of the old Cornish Hullers, and once the 
j)lace was possessed by the Kentish Furnesses. The 



I04 THK HISTORY OF 

house as it now exists has but Httle of interest or pictur- 
esqueucss from the outside, l)Ul within are one or two 
of the old rooms (that which was < if ten occupied by the 
third W'ilhani may be mentioned in ])arlicular ) a fine col- 
lection of arms, a statue of Democritus, which once 
adorned Loril Holland's great house at KiuL^s.^ate, and 
many other more or less interesting relics nf the (ild fam- 
il\' of Qiiex anil its \-arii:ius successurs." 

This pla>' has since come to America, and is at this 
tiirie l)eing pla\ed at the principal theaters of the lar,ger 
cities, and attracting consideraljlc attention. 

The Cris]ie famih' were in possession of the famous 
AIil)e\' at Sandwich in 1614. 

" In the tiiwn of Sandwich, Henr>' Crowfield, a Ger- 
man, in 1272 founded a prior>- in this t(_i\vn, for the Car- 
melite FraternitN-, subsequently, from the color of their 
habit, called the ' White Friars." The endciwrnent, how- 
ever, ]iroving insufficient, Raymond, or more properly 
speaking, William Lord Clinton in the 20th reign of Ed- 
ward I. proxx'd a much greater benefactor, and was in 
aftertinies regarded .sole founder of that institution, 
which had subsequently se\'eral benefactors towards its 
re-edification. 

" The Carmelite monasteries and churches were gen- 
erally spacious and stateh ; this at vSandwich posses.sing 
the privilege of affording sanctuary to criminals. Within 
the cemetery many principal families, inhabitants of this 
place, were buried, indejjendent of memliers of the house. 



Tin-; CRISl'K FAMILY. 105 

No further mention is made of tliis establishment until 
the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry \'III. 
'I'his prior\- was in the ;,jnd of the al)o\-e reign granted 
under the title of ' White I'ryers near Sandwich,' with 
the church hells and all messuages in the town, to 
Thomas Arderne. Cent., of Faversham, to hold of the 
King ' in capite.' Suhsecpient to that period we find no 
tnrther mention of the ]>osscssors of this property until 
i'ii4. when it was sold hy C.eorge, Samuel and John 
Cris])f to Xiclmlas Richardson, who settled the same on 
his daui^hter Ivlizahetli upon her mariiage with Kihnund 
I'.arhee The h'rierv i> situated on the southwest side of 
Sandwii'h, l)ctween the Ramp, n't and New street, and 
from the remains of the fi Jiuidations must have occupied a 
considerable extent, the house, garden and meadows hav- 
ing covered an area of more than fl\e acres." 

Page fi24 Ireland's History of Kent. 

The following letter by Charles Crispe, of Dornfortl. 
dated l-"ebruar\- 11, ij-^o, is a communication wortlu' of 
])lace in the History of I-jigland, since it demon.strates 
conclusivel\- the sacrifice the Crispe family made in behalf 
of their coiuitr\-. The corresjiondence was between 
Thomas Wotton and .Sir Charles Crispe, and can be seen 
at the Ron al Archiws, in \'ol. I\', ]>. j of Crispe Mis- 
cellanea; 

"SiK: I reed yours of the joth of Decem last, Hut 
I have had a \-er\- Oat Cold, and the Weather has l)een 
.so exceedingly cold, th.it 1 could hardh' hold a ])en in 



ro6 THF, HISTORY OF 

my hand, Else would have answered yours sooner: 

"The case of our Family was so far Unlike other 
Gentlemen, what, Sr. Nicholas Crispe, my Great Grand- 
Father Spent for K. Cha. \-e ist, altho as an\- private 
Gentleman in Fn.Sfland spent, was all Lost, So far as I 
will allow it to lie a Parallel case according to every Gen- 
tleman's estate so expended so far is certainl\' ri.i;ht with 
all of them that lust their money as our Family did. But 
what I am .tjoiii.u to mention now admitted of Neither 
Com])arison or Parallel. 

"This Gentleman went o\-er a Connnissioner from 
ye Cit\- of London to invite the Kins,' o\'er at the Restor- 
ation, when >e Kin.t; saw him a Hreda he took him in his 
arms and Kist him. and said slnirely the City had a mind 
highly to (Oblige me by sending o\'er M\' Father's old 
Friend to invite me into ye Kingdom. 

" I onl\- write this to Shew how some peoples ex- 
pressions and Actions agree. 

" This Gentleman settled a Trade to the whrile Coast 
of Affrica I'pon a Contrauct made with King Cha. the 
1st, well was done b}- Carrying out ye Manufactorys of 
England and importing ten Thousand pounds in Gold 
where never Englishman traded before, he performed his 
Contract and imported more Gold than was agreed on, 
So his Pattent was Confirmed. Rut after King Cha. ye 
ist Death, he was in .some fear of the Parlimt. to whom 
he had been so Great an F<nemy, Rut so far from deny- 
ing him. they said it was ye justest grant that ever was 



THI', CRISri' FAMILY 



iiuule. and ili(.-y woukl protect liini in it, and Wished he 
niiglit Ljo on and ]'ici--]Hr, for the\- heUeved their never 
was an instance where an\- Private Oentlenian had done 
so .t;-rate a Ser\-icc for his Coiuitry. 

" Hut c«inld it l)e expected that what our Enetny al- 
lowed our Faniil\' a just rii;hi to, should lie taketi awa>- 
from us li\- those who called themselves our Friends. For 
I'reseuth- after \e Restoration, the Duke of York sent 
Men of Warr down on that Coast and took away hy 
\irtue of the Kind's anthoril\- all our F"orts, Castles, and 
l''actor>s, and said if the\- made any resistance they 
would Declare them Rehells and Tralors to their King 
and Counlrv. ,iiid tonk awa\- from him all his F'orts, Cas- 
tles. Settlemts ami l-'actc rvs. from ye one end of the 
Coast to the other. F'or I ha\e read his Petition to the 
Kins.; in Conncill in the Coiuicill Books in 1662. There- 
fore it was done as soiin as Time would permitt after the 
Restoratit)!!. The Duke of York did this X'iolence on 
our Family to tjive it a Worthless Company, who broke 
soon after, and I think there has been two or three since, 
or ver\- near it. .Mthocalled Ro\all, how conld it he ex- 
jiected to be otherwise, when their \er>- foinidatlon was 
la\'d in X'iolence, Robber\- and Plunder. I should ha\'e 
Told yon this Sr. Nicholas Crispe D\-ed in the Year 1666, 
as in my other Paper, and by his last Will Declared he 
was above One hundred thou.sand pounds otit of Pockett 
over and above all Returns he ever had from that trade, 
for which he hoped the Nation wotdd make some Com- 



TH]-: HLSTORV OF 



])eiisntion to his Family, Hut that is \et to be done. 
Neither (hd the c(jiii]iany e\ er pa> One ^hilhni; for all 
tlie\- took from ns. When ni\' Liir<l Onsl<i\\s Father was 
Speaker of ye house of Conunons, a fane\' came into ye 
Aflrican Companys head that the>' \vt)uld sell all their 
Settlements to Foreigners, thai I suppose was trj threaten 
the Parliament . M> brother and I then petitioned the 
house of Connnons, that if the> pretinde<l to sell those 
Settlements, etc., they ought to i)a\- the real Proprietors, 
who came honestly b\' them, as to their piissestions of 
them that was come at by \iolence and Rcibbing >e Just 
and real Proprietors. Altho' I ha\-e wrote \er\' largel\' I 
cannot concludewithout g;i\-int; you an acc't how our fam- 
il\' were used by him after he came to the Thrown in an 
other instance for the mone\' which was borrowed for his, 
(sic) his lirothers and Sisters Sub^istance when they 
went abroad, they who lent it would not take their secu- 
rity, and they could not get Seciuity until n.y Oreat 
Grandfather, Sr. Nicholas Crispe, became a Counter Se- 
curity, I think \e sum was aliove three thousand pounds. 
My Father as succeeding his Grandfather was Sued for 
Summe, Principle and interest, L. Chancelour Finch De- 
creed ye debt against him. M\' h'ather desired time to 
Petition and apply to the King, \e Ro>all Family sub- 
sisted on that money when they went abroad. That his 
Grandfather was Counter Seciuitv for them when nobody 
would take their Securitx' alone, and he hojied his Majtie 
would take it into his consideration and pay the mone>'. 



t'risrpf IVdintff from tht I'iaitatioit of Kent. i66j. 
















iCriop ffdigrff from tlif Visitation of London. 1687. 




/r/ prric^Aitd f^u/ eCat*fUC^ are /tt y ^ e/- 






I 






4mt <f-Je^iM/m mar '^Acmu> 

tnt>- 9IMld-r ^^ 



an- Jn/a„t 






tl/urirvcM/ 









(Tta^J an 



ii (tiyiitlfi 



// (ttW 










-^l^i>f-uri/rr. 




Till': CRISP]': FAMILY. 113 

Since lie and his Family had reed all that Money, and 
onr I-'aniil\- luul ne\-er hail one shilling of it. Ac- 
C()iilin.ul\' ni\- I'^ither pelitinm-d the King in Councill, 
W'luii there was not wanting some Noblemen who told 
the King tliey n.niend)ered it \'ery well, that he had the 
nione>-, and ilu>- hoped a Gentleman whose Cirandfather 
was hound fur them when the\- could get no other Secu- 
rity might not be a sulTerer. The King asked what Es- 
tate m\' leather had, the\- answered a \-ery good private 
Creiitlenians Ivstate. The King answer'd Cods tish (an 
Ivxjiression he usc-d ) he is a.s well able to pay as I. This 
alTair made a great noise on my Fathers appeale to house 
of Lords, The house of Commons .sent our Councellor 
to the Tower, and it was said it would only expose the 
King, so an ex]n-dient must be found, and that was My 
Father should p.w the mone\-, both Principle and Inter- 
est, which he did without an\- compensation. The King 
had decn-ed it against him, which he did to shew his 
good nature, hesetni'd s<>e cry'd u]i for, as I have heard, 
how he could ha\e that Quallity without one Grain of 
lupntx' or Justice I can't comprehend. I hope \'oti will 
find tin- other ])ai>er to your mind, but if >ou should have 
anv objection let me know it and I will set >ou to rights, 
,ind am, Sr. 

■■ Your humble Servt, 
" Dornford, nth Feb. i7;,9. Cha: Cri.'^pr. 

' The money jiaid by my Father was between four and 
Ciyc thousand poimds, ye interest ha<l run on so long." 



114 THIC HISTORY OF 

In conjunction witli this very interesting bit of Eng- 
lish history it will l)e i|uite in order to render a copy of 
the will iif tins Sir Nicholas Crispe, whose wealth was so 
great that he was known to be "the richest man in all 
England." It will ajipeal to all readers, since it tells in 
undisinitiug language of the patriotism and liberality of 
this fearless jiatriot and statesman: 
" lW)f.. 

" I Nicholas Crisiie of Hammersmith in the County 
of Middlesex Knight and Barronett" — "for m>- buriall I 
would ha\'e my body opened That the Phisitians may see 
the cause of soe longshortness of lireath to l)e helpful to 
my Posterity that are troubled with the same Infirmity. 
And I order and appoint that m>- Ivxecutors cause my 
Heart to be Jmbalmed And to be put into a small urne 
made of the hardest stone and fasteneil in it placed upon 
a Pillor of the best and hardest Black Marble to be set up 
in Hanunersmith Chappell near my Pew the place I so 
dearly lo\'ed. And I ajipoint my bod)- to be put into a 
Leaden Coffin and laid in a vault in Si. Mildred's Church 
in Bread-street in London. That I made for my Parents 
and Posterit\- which Leaden Coffin I appoint to he put 
into a Stone Coffin to be covered with a stone. Testa- 
tor ' first discox'cred and settled the Trade of Oold in 
Affrica and liuilt there the Castle of Cormentine,' and 
'lost out of purse abo\-e /[ioo.goo,' I desire my worthy 
Kinsman Mr. Andrew Crispe fellow of Corpus Christi 
Colledge in (Oxford to doe that last service for me as to 



Tin'-. CRISP]'; FAMILY. 115 

Preach my funeral Sermon to whom mournino; and ^10. 
Testator confirms an Indenture dated ;.S Feb. 1664 for the 
conveyance to liis wife and two sous John and Thomas of 
all his Messuages Lauds etc to the uses of his Will and 
a])])oints them lixt'x Ivx'ors and Trustees To said wife 
£fioo a Near for life and /. 2000 to dispose of to such of 
her Children and Grand Children one or more of them as 
she shall hy her last will direct or appoint. I alsoe give 
imto ni\' said wife for her life soe much of m_\- dwelling 
house in Charterhouse Yard London as I did lately use 
for m\self and family And I doe further gi\'e nnto m>- 
said wife All m\' L> nneii which I ha\'e in any of ni_\- 
housi'S, and the use of all m\- Householdgoods Plate 
and furniture of Household which I shall dye possessed 
of for her life. To my daughter in law Ann Cri.spe 
widdow of m>' .sonne Kllys Crispe deceased £300 a year 
for her life for her Joytiture and /.too a year for the Fxl- 
ucation and breeding of her Daughters by her said Hns- 
b:md until they attain 21 or marry. And I doe gi\'e imto 
uiv said daughter Crispe £100 to buy her a King or Jew- 
ell unto my (iraudaughfer Rebecca Crisjie /^ 1000 when 
2 1 or married and if she dies under that age or unmarried 
then the same luUo the Survi\-ing Sister or Sisters of the 
said Rebecca when of the same age or married, l^nto 
I'^lizabeth Ann and Mary the Three other daughters of 
m\' said sonne I{llis Crispe £600 apiece when 21 or mar- 
ried. To Prescott Crispe younger sonne of mv said 
scMuie Fni< Crispe ii6oo when 21 conditionally. To 



ii6 THI{ HISTORY OF 

Nicholas Crispe eldc-r l^rothcr of the said Prescott ;{,2oo 
a year for see long tyine and until the said Nicholas shall 
have settled upon him lands or other listate which shall 
amount to a better >'early \alue Item whereas I have 
given and paid unto my sonne Thomas ffownes in portion 
with his wife Hester ffownes m>- daughter a greate por- 
tion farre exceeding that which would ha\'e accrued unto 
them or either of them In- their Customary ]iart accord- 
ing to the Custonie ijf the Cil\- of London if they legally 
release and accpiit unto m\- saiil Trustees etc all and 
every right etc which llie\' or either of them have or 
clayme out of my personal! estate etc I declare and ap- 
point ^'2000 to said Trustees for the benefit of said 
daughter unto my said sonne Thomas ffownes if he shall 
make the said release ^loo. Item If my sonne William 
Robinson and my daughter Anne his wife release etc 
all and every their Claynies etc out of my personall Es- 
tate etc unto my said daughter Robinson /^iSoo. Item 
whereas my sonne John Polstead hath under his hand 
and seale acknowledged himself fulh' adwanced in portion 
with my daughter Rebecca his wife yet in regard to m\- 
affection to my saiil daughter /. iSoo to said Trustees for 
her benefit, if my Two daughters Elizabeth and Abi- 
gaill release etc their claims etc out of my personall Es- 
tate etc I doe give unto each of my said daughters /2000 
within one year after my decease or when they marr\- if 
ni)- Neice Martha Martyne the wife of Benjamin Mar- 
tvne and her said husl)an<l release etc their claims etc to 



THI-: CRISIMv FAMILY. 



any sutn or sums of money from me etc 'unto my said niece 
Martha' i- loci. 'if my niece Hester \'iccarid,£;e wife of 
Robert \'iccnri(li;e and tliesaid Robert X'iccaridge' release 
etc 'tnilo m\' saide niece Hester, ,{,"100. 'if m>' nieces 
Reliecca and Mar\' Crispe Two of the daughters of my 
brother Saniuell Crispe' release etc 'inito each of ni\' said 
Nieces' ^.Soo 'if m\- Nephews Kllis Crispe and Samuell 
Crispe soniies of m\- said brother Samuell Crispe' release 
etc 'unto each of them' X.^oo. 'tnito my deare and Lov- 
ing Ne])hew I'illis Crisju- of Mart\iie Abbew ICsquire.' 
/.'so 'to bn\- him a ring.' 'to my sister Rowe' ,{'20 to buy 
her a ring' 'to mv nejihew Robert Cli:;rnock' rso 'to my 
niece Talkenberg' /'so to m\- brother and sister Leinan 
mourning at in\ finieral' 'to the compan>- of Salters 
in the Citty of London, silver ])late to the value of /too. 
'to the now wife of in>- sonne John Crispe ;{ s^ to Iniy 
liL-r a ring or Jewell.' 'Din'ing the conliiuiance of Tes- 
tator's Tuists the finllur sums of /H'o a year to said 
wife ;ind ^500 a \ear ajiiece to said John and Thomas. 
()tlur Legatees not called relations: S.iid grandson Nich- 
olas Crispe resid'y Legatee. Witness Charles Dalyson, 
Daniel Colw.di, I-'.dw. King, Ro Saunderson, Wm. Jack- 
son. Jolui Mussie. Dated 23 Februar\- ih6s. Proved 5 
.\])ril \hhh b\- Lad\- Ainie Crispe the Relict ^S: John & 
Thomas Crisjie tlu' sons. " 42 Mico. 

An incident in connection with the burial of Sir 
NiclKilas C^rispe is gi\-en, .as it seems to indicate the can- 



THl' HISTORY OF 



tious methods observed in storing; away his remains. We 
remember that he wished to l)e Inuied in a leaden coffin, 
and this to l)e deposited in a stone cottin, all to be buried 
nnder stone. Shortly after his burial the ( Vreat Fire of 
London tonk place and it destroxed four-hfths nf the cit>' 
of I^ondim. The fire ra.s.;ed for four <la>'s and three 
nigllts, and coinpletel\ destroyed e\'er\- vestige of the old 
town. The loss to the cixilized world, in the form of 
books, (hicuments, scientific woiksand histoiical build- 
ings, together with all the ])oints of interest, made this 
fire a dire calamity' . Recently whde digging at a point 
where the i>!d church of St. Mildred stood, the working- 
men came to the stone cotlin of Sir Nicholas Crispe. In a 
letter which I ha\e just received from .Mr. F'red. A. Cri.spe, 
of London, occurs this note: " Vou ma\' be interested 
to know that the coffin of Sir XiclKilas Crispe has just 
been found at St. Mildred's, Itread street, London. I 
ha\-e had a photograj)h made of it which I will repro- 
duce. Sir Nicholas Ciisjie died the year Ijefore the Great 
F'ire of London, in which the church was burnt, but he 
had been buried so <ieep (about eighteen feet down) that 
his remains \>ere uninjured." 

In a letter dated 1739, Charles Crispe, of Dornford, 
writes to a i.listingui.shed gentleman b\- the name of 
Woollen relati\r lo editing an account of the Crispe fain- 
ih'. It appears by thi> ccjrrespondence that this Crispe 
entertained the idL.i of writing up, or com])iling, a line- 



Till'; CKISPK I'AMILV. 119 

age of tlie Crispes. I have dilig-ently searched for his 
work, hut evideiHly lie did not carr\- out the project. In 
this letter he idso refers to the great loss of the Crispe 
pi-ojile. Il reads; 

"Mr. Wontteii. 

"vSir: I received 1)oth of your letters of the ruh of 
Septemher last as also the 27th of Nont last, with the last 
acc't of .M\ f.unil\' [)rinti.'d, so far as it relates to the Title 
of Harroni.ts. I shoidd ha\'e answered your first long 
before thi> time. liusiness of the utmost importance 
still pre\enti(l me sending \ou aue pi rfect account of 
what you disireti. I will oid>' add that ever_\- article 
printed in \i>ur lirst' acc't is grosslv mistaken. 

■' Von cdl >-e Alderman I'.lias Crisjie, Iiis name was 
lUlis Cris])'-, who d\e<l in 1^25, Mllis ha\'ing Ijeen a con- 
stant Chn-^tian nanu- in my famil>-, it was my Grand- 
father's n.une. 

" Then \ ou mention his son. who that printed paper 
sax's, died next x'lar alter his father. So far from that 
he livi'd and ser\ed the King through all the Cixille 
W'arrs and w.is lirst a Knight and after a Baronet. 

" I onh meiiliDU this as a specimen to show \ou how 
iIk' lirst ]>rmti.(l acc't was mistaken in e\'er\- pirticular. 
1 am drawing out an account of the particular.^ of my 
family which I will send >-ou in a little time, if your acc't 
don't go too suddeiilv to the Press, fwr tlun il will he a 
lahonr in vain, therifore desire to know 1)\- a line from 
von. 



THI-; HISTORY OF 



" I cannot but say tliat I wish there had been a 
prophet in our family. Then he minht ha\-e loM us how- 
to ha\-e kept our nione\' for tlie use of our family, as the 
custome is nowadays, and not spend so main- Thousands. 
I miglit add one Iiundred thousand, for \e tjoode of \-e 
pul)Hck without an>- return for the same, aUhoup;h of ye 
Greatest Service to llie Nation and bnth forcibly and mi- 
justly taken from us. 

" I am Sir, Your Ihunble Servant, 

■ Ch.\s. Cri.spk. 
" Dornford 15th Dec 1739." 

Additional linhi is thrown on Sir Nicholas Crispe in 
the reading: of jiortions of the will of Thomas Crisjie, his 
son; 

" I Thomas Crisjie of Dornforil and Ludwell Parish 
of W'ootten in the County of O.xon Knit. To be buried 
in St. Mildred's Church in Rread street in the vaidt there 
belongin.e: to the family with the rest of my ancestors, 
and I direct a Monument to be Erected for mee in the 
Church after the modell of that I made for my Wife in 
my Parish church of W'ootten in Oxfordshier, and would 
have the following inscriptii m thereon: ( M. S. of Thomas 
Crispe of Dornford and Ludwell, Knight, Deputy Lieu- 
tenant of the said County in which Post he ser\-ed the 
Crown under the last Five Subsequent Lords Lieutenants 
of the said County. He was one of the >'onnger son.s 
and Kxecntors of the Ould Sir Nicholas Crispe, Knight 




funeral i''crtififair of (?lHa tfrbpr. 16:5. 

.^^^ «>^m/</^/.// S/L)^^1(.^/t€^ .^.^^ptc^' 

.7ff/^ rid e./<-^^, :a^idJk//-fr €^^xd<^ /^ 

^' , '^/t'>7c' cut ^ (^e^-tt^tf/ .rA^^co^ OL^^.c^,'rv/ 

CAA^ tM^nrre ^rvr/ A^<.7< ^ ^€' -e^^ o/' 
S ?/i'^-i^ ^^^?eA a- Av^^' .^Air/i/io-' ^^A/«t>&^ex 

■P^exA^ ^^ A<^ / ?f<^ ^^f€ify%r/'r/ /€u:A>^ 
A'iXi.A ^^t-fr ■ S^'A'O Au^ rA/i^ ^^-ryrie/ 4^ /Al£' <at^-^ £^ 5 n^^f^.r^t^ >zJAf- 

cJ^^*c//^ ^d^nd<rrv -fi-^x^' ^A ^*^ *^<f^' <^ ^^ y^/^/rfA. ^ir^A*cm- <^yi/y 
^^ '>?%a.t- / ^ 'LJAhy>?t}/}ca c^i.c£ Cc/f%'-yz' ayncA ^^^AH-yrd^x^ne/r^ ^^ 
r/e^lde>ri Af/ ■f4yAu'»l'^ e^ft*^ >7-^>^3fc uyi<>*</ -AAl^jr^rto il^?7cc' Atf ^>Ti/y ^ 
^H^rvne /ei^trt^ ^ /Aif- ^/^ /^ /S ^t/€€^^yf^ f-r' /Ai^te/ ^Afou/Zt ^At^^ 
m-cct ^ Azy Z"^ A<iiiA'^?id'- /ifyy^-^ A^/vc^>i^f:Ji' &i^ (S:>c4''ru>^/ ■ /y, 

/Jo^f-i't^' ^ /A^:' <5r-ov ^ A '/''.■rtrr/* €-f*2f/ ?U^e^'- 4f' />?^ £*r/c^ -fj^ -A 

■z^^ j-:>f^^ ^ie'-^.c«^y^'<e- <y^ AAi/C' Act4>^ "7^// rr^fd f? A'^^^A^^^^^yfiAr 



f^y/yf^dj ^>^^><fe>* ^ /y/>/rr 



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i, hUty cidt^i </■««« /^■<i, llU 

..,..,>y ^-^^ <r.u.m..x LUy, 



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TI11{ CklSPI' FAMILY. 



and RainiiR-tl, Ancit-ntly Inhnliitaiit in this Parish and 
(ircal HLMK-factor to it and ulin was the onld faitliful ser- 
vant iif King Cliarles the first and Kini; Charles tile sec- 
ond, and fur wliDni he snffered \er>- ninch and I.ost One 
Hnndred Thotisand P(inn<ls in their ser\ices, hut was re- 
jiaid in i^reat Measure li\' Kint; Charles the vSecond his 
Jnstice and I'l 'unt\' .and is here nienlinned li\' his Kxec- 
ntiir as a CratL-ful .Acknowledijenient. The said Sir 
Xielu'las Cris]K- was the first that opened the trade to 
Ciiniiex- and there l)nilt the Castle of Corniantine. This 
said Sir Thomas Cris])e left onlx' ( )ne I).in>;hter Anne 
Crispe lately Married to Charles Cris])e I{sqr.. great 
Cirandson to the afore-aiil Sir Xielu 'las Crispe Kn't and 
Harronelt .ind who with his Danghter and himself make 
n]) ihn-e C.enerations from the said Oukl Sir Nicholas 
Cris])c \-i/t: Son. (ir.mdsun and C.reat C.r.indson. I 

" 1 eonfiim the Si-ttlenienl of my Manners <.ir 
affair-- of Hornford and Lndwell in the County of Oxon 
on my nanghter and Sen and their Heirs Male, hy ni\- 
Deed of the 2ist ilay of .April 1714. .And also the Set- 
tlement of jiart of my personall estate in and h\- a need 
of the fifth of M.iy 1 7 14 on m\- Son and Ilanghtir njion 
their nianiage. ''i'omysonmv tine King luing a ( '.re- 
tian Tries! and Priestess cut in an (jnix in C.reece about 
2000 years since.' 

"Proved 20 Aug 17 14." 



I ^Ci Aston. 



The following manuscript written liy Sir Charles 



126 THl' HISTORY OF 

Crispe can be seen at the British Musenni. It relates to 
the pe(lit,nx-e of the famil\- of Crisjies. Catalo;<ue mark: 
Add. Manuscripts 24120, Britisli Museinn: 

"The Pe(lit;ree (if tile I-'aniih' of Crispe, Harnonets. 
How Descended. Who Tliey Married and the Names of 
Their Seats: 

" I{llis Crispe I{sqr., Alderman, who died Sheriff of 
London in 1625, lies Kurried in mv \ault in vSt. Mildred's, 
Bread street. He married a dauKhter of Mr. John Ire- 
land of that W'ard, who with his wife lies also Inirried in 
my said \-anlt, as ma\- he seen in Old Stow. Ivllis 
Crispe's was Nicholas Crispe (who did not die in the 
year after his father ) lint was Sir Nicholas Crispe, Kni,wht 
and after the Restoration made a I?aronet 14th April 
1655, his body lies Iniried in My \'anlt in Bread Street 
Aforesaid. I'm his heart was by his Will imt into a 
Marble Urne in Hannnersmith Chapjiell with the I'ust of 
Kino Charles the 1st owr it as lieint; the Place he so 
Greath' Delighted in. Fnr he g.qve the Bricks for bnild- 
in,iT it, Gave the Bells and Beautified >-e Chappel at his 
own expense. This is the Gentleman mentioneil in My 
Lord Clarondine's History. He went through ye Civille 
Warr with King Charles ye ist & raised a Regiment of 
Horse and another of Foot for him at his own I'lxpence, 
besides Emense sums of Money, and was in ye sharpest 
service for he took out ye Commission Army for ye Citty 
of London, for which Parliament proffered One Thousand 
Pounds to bring him in a live or dead. He being the 



TIIK CRISPK FAMILY. 



first Bnronet imist bcRiii with him. The inscription on 
this nioniniKiit in Haninicrsniilh Chappcll is worth read- 
ing; ti> -.iwy hddy who is ciirions that way." 

The Manor Koyton, of wliich Hon. William Winde's 
writes on page 71 of this liook, is well described in \'ol- 
tinie III, ])a>::es 5.^, 59 ami 60, of Ireland's History of 
Kent Comity, as follows: 

" Koytijii, otherwise Rayton, is a manor in this par- 
ish sitnatefl a small distance eastward from Chilston, the 
mansion of which had a free chapel annexeil to it, the 
rtiins whereof were still remaining some \ears hack. 

"In the year 1259, under Henry III., this manor 
was in the possession of Simon Fit/alian: at which time 
a final as^jret-ment was ratified in the King's Court at 
Westminster between Roger, abbot of St. Augustine's, 
aTid the said -Simon concerning the customs and services 
which the abbot demanded of him fur his tenement, which 
he held of that ecclesiastic in Ro\iou, viz: one mark of 
silver auiuiallv, and suit at the Cotu't of I.enham; which 
suit the alibot released to him on his agreeing to pa>' the 
rent above mentioned and suit at Court of St. Augus- 
tine's at Canterbury'. 

" He was succeeded b\- Rt)bert Roy ton. wlio most 
pro1iahl\- assumed his name from his possession at this 
place. The latter founded a free chapel here and annexed 
it to the mansion, which thence acquired the name of 
Royton Chapel. It continued in the abo\e name until 



THI' HISTORY OF 



the rei,<;n of Henr>- \'I., when by an only daughter the 
property- Cdiu'eyed in ninrriaE^e to James Iiryhunl, Ksq.. 
of Davin,<4t(in, whuse dau,L;hter and sole heir Constance, 
entitled lur hnshand, Sir Thomas \\'alsiii>;liam, to its 
possession. He die<l in the reign (jf I'ah\ ard I\'., when 
one of his descenthTUts, under Henry \'ni., alineated this 
manor tri I'Mward M\Il\s, wlio did he .mage to the abbot 
of St. Augustine's for the same as half a Knight's fee, 
\\hicli lie had jnuchased in Ro>ton, ntar Lenlnim. It 
was soon afterw.ards sold to Rohett Atwater, win. lea\ing 
two daughters and co-heirs, Mar\ , the >(>uugest carried 
it with other estates at Charing and elsLwhere in this 
neighborhood to Robert Ilonvwood, Ivsij , of Henwoo<l, 
in Postling. 

" He afterward resided at Pett, in Charing, being 
part of his wife's inheiitance, and il>'ing in i.SJ'i was 
buried in Leuham Church, lieariug tor his arms those of 
Honywood, with a crescent gules for difference. He left 
a luunerous issue 1)\- his wife, who survived him nearh" 
forty-four >-ears of her age, and was interred near him, 
though a moinnnent to her menicirv was erected at Mark's 
Hall, in I^ssex. She had, as it is said, at her decease, 
lawfullx' descended from her 367 children — sixteen of her 
own, 114 grand-children, 22S in the third generation and 
nine in the fourth. The eldest son, Hon\'wood, of Char- 
ing and afterwards of Mark's Hall, in h'ssex, was twice 
married; first to I)oroth>", daughter of John Crook, L. 
L. D., b\' whom he had one sou, Sir Robert Honywood, 



Till', Ckisri'; FAMILY 



I2y 



of Chariiijj, ami out- daughter. By his second marriage 
he liad sc\-eial sons and daughters, tlie eldest of whom, 
Thomas, was of Mark's Hall alnnx- mentioned. Sir Rob- 
ert at his dcatli de\-isL<l the maniir of Ro\lon to I)oroth\-, 
his daughter li\- his tlrst wife. His sut\-ivin.g son An- 
thony was of Royton. of which estate he died jiossessed 
ill lO.'^j, leaving an only daughter, Durothx', who carried 
it in marriage to Riehard Cri>i)e, (.".eut., of Maidstone, in 
whose descendeiits it continued denvu to William Crispe, 
(leiit.. of Ro>toii. Hech'ing in 1761 de\ised this jiroperty 
h\- will to his sur\'i\-ing wife, Elizabeth, for her life, and the 
fee of the same to lii> nejiliew, Samuel Belcher, who dying 
unmarried and intestate his interest in the same ilesceiid- 
ed to his oule brother, Peter Belcher, who by will left it in 
1772 to his brotlier-iiidaw, John Foster, in fee. Mrs. 
]';ii/..ibeth Crispe. before mentioned, died in 177S, and 
this estate then went into the po.ssession of Mr. John 
I'osler. who afterwards sold it to Thomas L5est, Esq., of 
Chilton, on whose ikinise, in 1793. it jiassed by his will, 
among other estates, to his nejihew, (leorge Best, Es([.,of 
Chilton." 

'I'm: Ki%\"t:KKNTis Toin.\s .\nd s.ami'ki. ckisph. 

Dr. Tobias CiiNpe was a learned man, and as a min- 
ister of the gospel made a great reputation. He was a 
prolific writer, and jiossessed a large library of theologi- 
cal Uioks. He died ill March, if'44. His son, Samuel, 
also became a minister, and he was noted throughout 
I'jiglaiid for his "deep knowledge of the Scriptures." 



I30 THI' HISTORY OF 

W'lien lie died he left an estate valued at i.Soo.ooo, and 
this amount was left to his kin. He died when sixt>' 
years of ajrje. 

Plis last will indicates his possessions, and also intro- 
duces his learning; relative to the Hilile. 1 have copied 
such portions of his will as may be of worth and I give 
It in the hope of doin.ij justice to this i;reat scholar. It 
reads in part as follows. 

"There is a L;reat deht owine; to mee out of !n\- 
wife's brother Peter Pheasaunt's estate, it lieinc; ahoiit 
Iile\-en Hundred pounds in Anno 167S for 500 which his 
brother Walter Phensaiuit <ja\-e me by will in 166.S, etc., 
which debt he (the said Peter) ' partl\- ownes in his will 
of 12 May, 1676, witnessed b>- Mr. Sergeant Goodfellow 
etc., which Will I ha\'e by me uncancelled' etc., the 
' said debt of iioo' and Interest or what can Ije recov- 
ered of it I .ijive to nn* four younger sonns, lillis, Stephen, 
Walter and Rowland Wilson.' 'And whereas his late 
Majestic King Charles the second owed to m\- grand- 
father, Mr. Rowland Wilson, to whom I am h'.xecutor, 
the one-fourth part of Ten Thousand and five hundred 
pounds' 'for gold he had out of the Starr from Ginney, 
and a fourth of 4000' for the Cormantine frigott lost in 
his Service,' the said delfts 'to my six sonns equally 
among them.' 'Whereas the Crowne of Portngall is in- 
debted to mee as Executor of my grandfather and partly 
in m>- own right about Two Thousand poinids and inter- 
est for his fourth of 5.S00 odd pounds due to the Guinea 



Till': ckisi'i': I'Amilv 



Company, liesides what is due to himself, and for which 
debt tile Kiiiplome is bound ]>y Articles of Peace, I p:i\-e 
the same or what can be recovered to m\' four V'oiuiger 
sonns.' 'To my three younger sonns the One Hundred 
pounds I lent nn- ehlest stin Phesaunt in his straits in April 
or Ma\-, I '''94.' ' To my fi\-e younger sonns the 500 that 
m\' said eldest sonne obliged himself by Note i6gi to pay 
to iliem when he should be worth four thousand jiounds.' 
'To my Sonne Phesaunt ni\ gold Watch and Chain to it 
and the fine l^icture of the Madona that I formerly lent 
him,' etc., also ' m>- pocket bible of 44 years use hoping 
he will make good use of it.' 'To my sonne vSamuel my 
Father's Hil)le printed in 1631 in the margent of which 
from 167510 iC),So, L-tc, I m;ide annotations from I Cor. 
to tin- end. To my deare hdlis, in his hand, I give m\' 
iiiterlea\-e<l Bible with ten years annotations, etc., in it. 
To ni\' son Stephi-n to furnish him somewhat in the 
blessL-d work of the Minister\-, I give all of m>' Manu- 
scripts of Hoebrew and Greek in mv three times writing 
out the Bible in Hebrew and Creek in luiglish Letters 
and rendring the whole into proper Ivnglish.' etc., ' my 
Books of the List of vSe\'en Thousand and od Sermons 
from 164S to I 701. and all the Sermon Books, about 300, 
I gi\-e to m\' said sonne Ste])hen, my Coghil's Bible 
jirinted 1576. in folio, with Notes and Ivrasmus latine 
Ttslament of 1463. I give my sonne Walter m\- im- 
liroidered Bible and other greate Bible. I .give my sonne 
Rowland Wilson m\- greate BibK- ni\- wife used. I gi\-e 



THI'; HISTORY OF 



my daughter Mary all my otlier books." Proved 2,^ Nov- 
emlier, 1703." i'"^- I^egg. 

KLLIS CRTSTK, SUKRIFF OF LONPON. 

iniis Crispe, son of Sir Nicholas Crispe of wiiom we 
speak on page [14 of thislionk, was atone time an Alder- 
man in London, and later elected Sheriff of London. He 
was a \'er>' werdthy man. and dieil some twenl\- years be- 
fore his fatlier, who was the famous Sir Nicholas Crispe, 
the " Ould faithful ser\-ant to Charles the First." Kllis 
died while he was Sheriff, and the darter at the College 
of Lleralds issued in his honor a funeral certificate signed 
by his wife, Hester Crispe. This certificate has been 
photograi)hed and engra\-ed for this book. The Crispe 
shield is jvirted with that of the Ireland familw who 
had as their arms six neu-de-l\s. Li his will, which was 
j>ro\X'<l No\'enil)er 7, 1625, ( 120 Clarke 1, he gi\'es to his 
wife, chiUlren and friends upwards 1 .f /,i7,ooo, besides 
he wills scores of estates and a number of \alual)le prop- 
erties in London. He also founded au alms-house at 
Marshfield, County of Ciloucester, and donated ^600, add- 
ing an annual donation. He was buried in the family 
vaidt at St. Mildred's Church, F.read street, London, 
November 5, 1625. He had eight sons and two daughters. 

ABIC.ALL CKISPK, WIFE OF THE LORD MAYOR 
OF LONDON. 

Kllis Crispe, of whom we have just written, had a 
brother, Nicholas Cris]ie, whose \oungest daughter, Abi- 
gail, was the wife of the distinguished " Right Worship- 



(fri)i'|)t I'cdtnrct from thf li'i'jitutlcm of Su.ssti. iCm. 







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UxJ^^ly yiiij.^ :>lic C4,^r~cp>r<. /(C.> /»»'«* .*,../ l/a^l,.- a.-H e(a^„. 






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ruv. CKisri': family. 137 



ful Sir Ahraliam Raxnaidson, Knight, Aldeniuni and 
I.crd Ma>(ir of I.diidoii." TIk- marriage took place 
about I'oi, and lur lui^hand was fanions as liax'int;; pre- 
^■^.•ntc■d iIk- collection (jf tin,' unncci-ssary tax from llic 
people of London in support of tlie Ro>al family. 

In liis funeral certificate published the I2th day of 
January, i6(,i, the Carter of the Colle,<:;e of Heralds re- 
cites the important features of his life. I had this cer- 
tificate ])liotor:;raphed ami fiiRraN-ed for this hook. It 
says, in ])art: " The cor])se was renuned to Merchant- 
ta\lor's Hall London, and there < set out with all cere- 
monies belony;in,i; to his dei;r<.-(.- i leinaineil till Thursday, 
ijtli da\- of the same October, and was interred in the 
Parish Church of St. Martin: the Lord Ma\or and Al- 
dermen, the Ciox-eniors, HeiJiuies and assistants of the 
Turkey and ]{ast Indi.i Couipan\-, and the Governors of 
the St. Hartholomewes IIos])ilal. with a great lUimber of 
his relecaions and ITriends and acquaintances attending it 
thither. Tlu- said Sir Kaynardson, Knight, was Lord 
Mayor of London in the year iCi^q, but was by the then 
pretending Parliament discharged from his Ma\oralil>- 
and disabled to bare the office of Ma>'or and Alderman of 
London and lined 2000,/," and committed to the prison for 
refusing to jiroclaim their Traxterous Act for abolishing 
the Kingl\- office in ICngland. The said fine was le\-ied 
by sale of the Goods by the Candle," 

This occurred in tlie stirring times of Cromwell, an<l 
a leiigthv and interesting account of this diflictdt\- of 



I3.S THK HISTORY OF 

the Lord Mayor can Ik- found in any unal)rid,t>ed Life of 
Cromwell. 

This Al)i.u;all Crispe, dauslUer of Nicholas Crispe, 
(hed ahoiu the Near I'l.vs. <i'i"l ■'^lie left two sons, Ahrahani 
and Nicholas Ra\-nardson. Her father was a .L,fentienian 
of influence, and when he died left an estate \-alued at 
^,700,000, besides j;i\-in,<; a large land grant to the alms- 
house foiuided 1)\- his lirother Ellis at Marshfreld. 

OTIIKKS C^I- THR CKISPH ^•A^^II,V WHO WHKli 
PKOMINKN'r. 

The faniil\- of Crispe, was well intermingled with the 
prominent citi/.ens of Southern England, and among 
those of the fannly who di.ser\-e mention in consideration 
of their marriage we eniunerate without further descriji- 
tiou the following: 

Henr\- Crispe, of liirchiugton, married a daughter 
of Sir Anthony Colepepper, of liedghtug. 12S Carr 

Anna Cris]ie, of the Parish of Chiswick, Count>- of 
Middlesex, had a daughter whose sou hecame Sir Harry 
Gough. Baronet. 100 Bedford. 

Peter Crispe, of Cobcot, had a sister whose son he- 
came vSir Richard Ingolsby. 52 Huddleston. 

Sir Edward Moniug's daughter married Sir Henry 
Crispe, Knight, of T^irchington, 

History of Isle of Thanet. 

Sir Christopher Clapham, of Clapham, York.sliire, 
married Elizabeth, third daughter of Thomas Crispe, of 
Qttex. 



Till'. CklSPI- I'AMILV. 139 

Sir Richard I,(.-vett, married a Crispe daughter. 

S^^ riesg. 

Tlie son of Sir Henry Crispe, of Oiicx, married the 
sole (hmghter of Lord Chexiiey. 

Ilaiiuah Crispe, of Guernsey, was the wife of Sir 
I'Minund Andros. famous in the Colonial history of 
America, and of this lady we will write when treating 
the Crisjic famil\- in iIk- Xuw W^rld. 2i''> Carr. 

The CrisjK- ])eoi)le were closeh' identified with the 
luiglish events of the iC)ih, i-th and i.sth centuries, and 
they took an active ])arl in the several wars of those da>'s: 
but not until the gre.it strife hetween Charles the I'irst 
and (Tli\er Cromwell do we learn of their enthusiastic de- 
\-otii)n to the causes championed. It was in this great 
ci\'il war that the Crisjie fainilv sustained a heav>' finan- 
cial lo.ss and nuich of their wealth was taken from them, 
ami a considerable ])i)rtion donated in the interests of 
opposing factions. In the fratricidal strife the Crispe 
fainil\- was almut e(|ually divided, some siding with 
Charles the I'irst while others espoused the catisi.- of 
Cromwell. Thus we find them enlisting in opposing 
aimies. Prominent among the Cavaliers, as the support- 
ers of Charles were known, we find a Sir Nicholas Crispe 
and a Sir Charles Crispe, while on the Cromwell side we 
note a Sir Ilein'v Crispe.' and the famous Reverend Tobias 
Crispe. Hence the family of Crispe were di\'ided — one 
atTirming the Episcopal creed, the other adopting Puri- 
tanic princijiles. while both factions attained eminence 



I40 THK HISTORY OF 



and distinction in antao-onizing- armies. We will discuss 
those of Puritanic inclinatidU when studying the early 
Settlers in America. 

The ])receeding pages clearl\- indicate that the Crispe 
family was more than ordinarih' promineiU in the affairs 
of Southern I{ngland. The Crispe people inhabited for 
the most part theCountx'of Kent, the garden spot and the 
battlefield of luigland. We find that the>- clustered and 
did not separate, hut continued to li\-e in several of the 
cities of Kent, and among these homes we mention 
Birchington, Cle\-e, Deal, Dover, Maidstone, Ro>ton, 
Leeds, Loose Court and Sutton \'alance. 

THE CRISPK F.\MILX- Ol" SI'TTOX V.-\I,AXCE. 

A large branch of the Crispe famih- settled at Sutton 
\'alance, where for upwards of Uxn hundred \ears they 
were tillers of the soil of this famous valley in Kent 
County. There are possibly but two other valle>s on 
earth as pictinesque as the \'alle>- of SiUti)U, and these 
are the .Moselle \'alle\- and Onieda \'alley. In this rich 
.soil and these scenic '^urroimdings, a large family of Crispes 
was reared. Though there are not at this time many of 
the family still li\ing at old vSutton \'alance, since in the 
3"ear 1S52 a great number of the Crispe people emigrated 
to the United States; yet there are are a few of the rela- 
tives who still reside in the vicinit>' of the romantic val- 
ley. The old town, founded by King Edward the First, 
is al)Out fort\- miles southeast of London, and but a few 
miles from Maidstone. As early as 1600 the Cri.spe folks 



THK CRISPK FAMILY. 141 

were tiller? of the soil at Sutton. The major portion of 
the Crispe people now living in America are interested 
more e.specially in a certain William Crispe, from whom 
the family hailiiiy; from Sutton, came. 

WII.l.I.XM CKISPK, OF SrTTOX VALAN'CE. 

This William Crispe came to Sutton and purchased 
the manor known as " Mount Pleasant." Little is known 
of his early life, hut in 1 722 he was married to a Miss Susan 
I*"ry. and to them was born eight daughters and one son. 
The names of these nine children are: Mary, Anna, Eliza- 
hetli. Su-^an I (lied January 1783, age 44 years). Sarah, 
I'riscellia 1 died SepteinlK-r 20. 1S23, age 69 years. In the 
church is a tablet which says. " Near this place on the 
outside of the church are deposited the remains of Pris- 
cellia Crispe of this parish who departed this life Septem- 
ber 23, 1.H23. Aged 69 years. 

How loved, how valued one 

.\v;iils thee not 

To whom related or by whom 

liegot 

A heap of dust alone remains 

Of thee 

Tis all ihou art, and all 

The proud shall be. 

This monument is created by her nephew Mr. John 

ICarl" I, Francis and Martha. 

The only son was John Crispe. 

William is spoken of in old family letters as being "A 



14-^ THl': HISTORY OF 



large man and of a very liberal turn of niiiide." He died 
January 27, 1772, at the ajje of 69 years. He lies buried 
at Sultan \'alance, as are all the relatives under present 
consideration. His wife died March 16, 1705. at the old 
age of So years. She was buried at her nati\'e town 
iif Dartford, where her parents kept the famous " Bull 
Ta\-ern." The eight daughters were married, but we 
will not describe their lineage, since the name Crispe 
ceased after their marriage. Howe\-er, it is worthy of 
note to mention that Francis liecame the second wife of 
the noted Henry Harl, wlio <lied I'"el)ruary S, 17S1, aged 
32 years. She died February 3, 17.S1, aged 2S years. A 
magnificent momnnent at the Suttan \'alance cemetery 
marks their graves. 

The present generations of Crispes are particularly 
interested in tliis only son of William Crispe and Susan 
Fry, since he is the origin of a large family of Crisjies. 

JOHN' CRISPK. 

John Crispe, the onI>' son of the foregoing, was Ijorn 
at Sutton X'alance in 1743. He was married to Elizabeth 
Shirley, and, quite contrar>- to the existing tendency of 
the Crispes, he liecame the possessor of a large famih*. 
He li\-ed at Mount Pleasant manor, and was among the 
prominent citizens of that section of the County of Kent. 
The names of the thirteen children which composed hi.s 
family were as follows: William, Thomas, George, Cle- 
ment, Charles, Mary, Susanah, Klizabelh, Ann, Sophia, 
John, James and Edward. 



Tin- CRISPE FAMILY. 143 

lie was a prosperous fanntr and a devott-'d Christian, 
worshiping; in tla- l{])iscopal Churcli iSl. Mary's 1 at Sut- 
ton X'alaniH', and in its cemetery all the family of Sutton 
are l)uried. He died April 23, iSii. at I lie age of 6S. 
He possessed considerable property, and was considered 
wealtln', his daus^hter Sophia recei\'inj; the hldk of his 
worth — /.5000. His wife, IUi/.al)eth, died June 17, 1 7>/', 
aj^ed 30 years. The old house in which he li\'ed still 
stands, anil while I tr.iveled in this reijion I ]-)hoto.<;raphed 
it and the church for pictures in this hook. 

We will next sind\- the careers of his thirteen child- 
ren, .and in doing so we will completely, though briefly, 
describe the entire offspring of each of these thirteen 
children. In the appendix of this book will be found 
the classified cop>- of this branch of the Crispe famih'. 
Man\- of these children of John Crispe and Elizabeth 
Shirle\- emigrated to the United States, so we will give 
them consideration in Part H of this work, de\-oted to 
the family of Crispe in America. The thirteen children 
and their kin are as follows: 

WII,I.I.\M CKISPK, xo. I. 

He was born in Sutton \'alance in 1764; he married 
C.race l^li/.abeth Goodwyn, and to them were born eight 
children — John {\'). Charles 1 B "i , James ^C). Priscellia 
(D^, luiward iP't, William (Fi, Thomas ( G ) and Sarah 
(Hi. 

William died May 29, 1S34 His wife died February 

25. 1^45- 



144 THE HISTORY OF 

John ( A ) was married to Miss Elizabeth Coville, and 
to them were born five children — Charles (a), James (b). 
Edward ic), William ( d ), and Priscellia (e i. He emi- 
grated to the I'nited States where he died June f^, 1.^34. 
The sons and daughters will be considered ui Part II. 
Charles (B) born 1807: married: left no issue. 
James (C) was burn Septendx-r if), i.Soq; married 
Maggie Panilergast in 1S31: to them were born ten 
children — Jamas (a), Sarah (h), Maggie (O, Charles (d), 
Mary (e), Charles (f), William (g), John (h), Elizabeth (i), 
and Priscellia iji. This Mr. James Crispe and entire fam- 
ily will be de.scrilied in Part II. 

Priscellia (D) married William Smith, of Folkstone, 
and to them were born three children — William (a), John 
(b) and Charles (c). 

William (a); married: left no issue. 
John(b): married: left no issue. 
Charles Ic): died in infanc>-. 

Edward (E): born May i, 1.S02: by occupation was a 
farmer, miller and baker: in 1827 was married to Miss 
Elizabetn Munn. He owned a splendid farm in Sutton 
Valance, and it was known as the " Forsham Farm," 
containing ninety-six acres. This book contains a pic- 
ture of this old home. To Edward and Elizabeth were 
born nine children, as follows — Edward (a), Grace (b), 
William (o, Priscellia (d), John (e), Anna (f), Sophia (g), 
Alice (h) and Emma (i). This entire family came to 
America in 1852, and their accounts will be in Part II. 




Mors r ri.KAs.w T manor. 

(l.;n>|.r Honu-stta.l.i 




AM. IS I.KISI I (C: 



Till' CKISPE FAMILY. 149 



William (F); littk- is known of him: he came to 
America, settliiitc near BulTalo, New York: was married 
and had a ilanj;hter: he died in America in 1S23. 

Thomas '('.I: licirn in iSii: died when 9 years old; 
bnrieil at Sntton, Nox'emlier 9, 1S20. 

Sarah 'IF: Imrn iSu; died in infancy, Fehruar)' 13, 
1S14. 

THOMAS CKISPE, NO. II. 

Tlionias Cri.sjie, No. H, the second child of John 
Crispe and IClizabeth ShirU-y, was horn in 1765. He was 
married to FHizabeth Wilkins, and to them were born 
seven children — Thomas ' A\ Henry <BK Fllizabeth (C), 
Mar\- 'D'. Sarah il'.i, Anna (F) and Clement (G). He 
died July i, iSiS, and his wife died April 7, 1S17. 

Thomas i.\i: married: had two children — Thomas 
• ai, and .Mar\- .\nn 'bi; he died October 4, 1S75: buried 
at Sutton X'alance. 

Thomas i;i': died in infancy. 

Mar\- Ann ib': married; had two sons. 

Ilem-y 'H': married Susan Coulter: they had one 
child. Susan 'a': Henr>- died Au,<;ust 2, 1S75: buried at 
Sutton X'alance. 

Susan la': married a Mr. Samuel Pa\'ne: had no issue. 

FHizabeth iCi; became second wife of Mr. Samuel 
buss: ihe\' had four children — Samuel lai, Harriet (b\ 
J(_)hn I CI. I'annv i d *. FHizabeth died June 5, 1S46. 

Samuel lai; died at an early age: he was married 
and hafl two children —Mnr\- Ann i i \ and Harry (2). 



I50 THE HISTORY OF 

Harriet (b): married luUvanl Brooks; thej' had no 
children. 

J()hn(ci: hachelor: still li\iii)jf. 

Fanny (d); married Thomas Adams. 

Mary ( D): married lo Thomas Vinson; they had six 
children — Thomas (a), John (h), Mary (c), William 
(d), Edward (e) and Elizabeth (f). 

Thomas (a); no particulars. 

John (b); no particulars. 

Mary (O; lives at Maidstone, luisland. She deserves 
praise for ha\'ing assisted me in getting many of the facts 
concerning the Crispc people at Birchington, Deal, Cleve, 
Leeds, Maidstone and Sutton Valance. I take this op- 
portunity of thanking her for this valuable aid in for- 
warding this information. 

William UU; no particidars. 

Edward (e); no particulars. 

Elizabeth (f); no particulars. 

Sarah (E); married Thomas Biggs; they had one 
daughter, Sophia (a); Mrs. Sarah Biggs came to America 
and died in 1856. 

Sophia Biggs (a); was married to a Mr. Parker. 

Anna (F); died at Sutton \'alance, October, 1S70, 
leaving no issue. 

Clement tG); died at Sutton Valance. 

GEORGE CRISPE, NO. III. 

George Crispe, No HI, the third child of John Crispe 
and Elizabeth Shirley, was born in 1767. He married 



ruv. cRispi'; family. 151 

Miss Mercy I, ink. lie died August 24, 1S24; she died 
.■\u>;ust 8, 184.'?. To these people were born seven child- 
ren—John iA>, Stephen (B), George (C, Elizabeth (D), 
Mercy dO, ICli/a (piand Mary Ann (Gi. 

Jolm I A); was married and had two daughters. 

Stejihen iBi: married; had two children — Bertha (a), 
George lb). vSk-])hen ilieil about !8;,o. 

Bertha lai; uiarrit-d a Mr. Thomas Cooper. 

Cieorgeibi; still living at Suttan \'alance. 

George tC': dieil in 1830; left his estate to his two 
brothers. 

Ivli/.abeth iDi; died at Sutton Place. 

Mercy (E>; died June 11, 1S25, nt Sutton Place. 

lUiza ib'i; dieil March 11, 1869, at Sutton Place. 

Mary Ann '(t); died January 7, 1844. 

CI.KMEXT CRISPR, NO. IV. 

Clement Crispe, No. IV, the fourth child of John 
Crispe and lili/abt-th Shirley, was married to Mary Nash 
Dickinson: he died October 20, 1S29: she died November 
20, 1822; their children were— Clement (A>and John (Bt. 

Clement lA'; was married to Miss Armstrong; they 
had two children — Mary la) and Arm.strong (b). 

Mary la* is still living. 

Armstrong ib' is still living. 

John IB); remained single; died at Sutton Place. No- 
vember, 1870. 

CHARLES CRISPK, NO. V. 

Charles Crispe, No. \', the fifth child of John Crispe 



IS2 THl' HISTORY OF 



and ElizaVjeth Shirley, remained a bachelor, and in his 
will left his estate to his l)r(ilhers. He died Aui^nst 26, 

1S27. 

IMAKV CRISPK, NO. VI. 

Mary Crispe, No. \'I, the sixth child of John Crispe 
and Ivlizabeth Shirley, was married to Samuel Hood; the 
marria,L;e was without issue. She died No\'endier 24, 
1S51. Samuel Hood died in 1S73. 

St'SAXAH CRISPK, NO. \'II. 

Susanah Crispe, No. \'II, the seventh child of John 
CrisjK' and Elizabeth Shirley, was married to Daniel 
Coulter: she died December 29, 1S44. Mr. Coulter died 
April 25, 1S54. The>- had four children — hdizalieth (A), 
Soj:)hia (B), Ann (C) and Susanah (D). 

Elizabeth ( A ); was married to Mr. Samuel Buss; 
she died Maj- 16, 1S22; he died in 1S30; they had two 
children — Elizabeth (a) and Susan (1)). 

Elizabeth (a); no particulars. 

Susan (b); no particulars. 

Sophia (Bi: married to Samuel Harman; the\' had 
four children — Susan (ii, Sarah I2I, Samuel (3); John (4). 

Susan' I ); no particulars. 

Sarah I2I; no particulars. 

Samuel '31; no particulars. 

John (4); no particidars. 

Ann (C); married William Jarrett; thej- had one son 
— William <a). She died September 12, 1848. 

William <al; still li\-ing. 



THE CRISPK FAMILY. 153 

Siisanali iDl; married Dr. Heiir\- Crispe, surgeon: 
tliey lived at Sutton: she died April 27, 1879: he died 
shortl\' after: they li;ul one daughter — Susanah (ai. 

Susanah la': married a Sanuiel Pa^ne. 

)CI.IZ.\I!I{TII CKISl'I':, NO. VIII. 

h:ii/alieth Crispe No X'lII, the eighth child of John 
Crisjx- and I'lli/abeth Shirle}': married Edward Shirle\-: 
she died I)eceml)er 4. iShi: he ilied March 14, 1S56: they 
had eighteen children — Edwaril 'A'. Thdiuas il^i), Anna 
'C', Charles 'D', C.eurge 'V.K Edwin iFi. Willium (G*, John 
Richard 'I!', S.uniiel (I>, Pettenden (J', James (K), Henry 
(El. Samuel Hood iMt, Clement (Ni, l^li/aheth lO), 
Sojihia (Pi, .Stejihen ' (j ' . William • R 1. 

Exlward ( .\ 1 : manied: had two sons: one died, one 
still li\'in.i;. 

ThnniasiH*: married: died .Vjiril 2. iSr>;^: had one 
sou: still li\ing. 

.Anna iC': married to Chark'S Norrin.gton: she died 
March J5. iS^o: one son — lulwanl la). 

I-Mward la': still living. 

Charles 'D': married: had two sons: died Jautiar\- 
-.1. I.S74- 

(jeor.ge lE': married: had one son. George died 
July 9, 1.S65. 

I'Mwin ( I'' 1 : still living. 

William ((".): died August f\ 1795. 

John Richard (H): died Se]>teml)er 10, 1S27. 

Samuel ( I i: died Seiitemher 6, 1.S60. 



154 THI-; HISTORY OF 

Pettenden (J): died Novenilier, 1S70. 
Jamt's (K): died Februarx' 17, iSdo. 
Henr>' 1 Lc died Sejjtcniher 12, 1S74. 
Samuel Hood ( M ) ; died October 17, 1X67. 
Clement iN); died ,Si.-])tember 20, 1S76. 
Klizabeth <0): died June 4. iSog. 
Sophia (?»: died August 21, 1811. 
Stephen <0); died in infancy. 
William 'Ri; died Januar\- 21, 1839. 

AXN CKISPK, NO. i\. 
Ann Crispe, No. IX, the ninth child of John Crispe 
and Elizabeth Shirley, married h'dward Norrinston. 
She diL-d Januar\' 15. rS.sS. He died Se]nember 28, 1859, 
The>' had no children. 

SOPHIA CKI.srE, XO X. 

Sophia Crispe, No. X, the tenth child of John Crispe 
and lili/.alieth Shirle>-; born 1781; married Stephen 
W'ilkins. She died March i, 1841. He died March 17, 
1S26. They had five children — Stephen (Ai, William 
(B), Mary (C), Sophia (D» and Margret (E). 

Stephen (A); died at Sutton Place, Januarv 9, 1S77, 
aged 74 years. 

William (B); died June 5, 1868. 

Mary (Ci; died January- 10, 1854, 

Sophia (D); no particulars. 

Margret •!{): died January 2, 1877. 

JOHN CRISPE, NO. XI. 

John Crispe, No. XT, the eleventh child of John 



THK CRISPE FAMILY. 155 

CrisjK' and Elizabetli Shirley, was married to Mary W'ilk- 
ins Jdhn died March 21, 1S07. His wife died April 21, 
iSu'k 'I'hey had one daughter — Mar\- Ann lAi. 

Mar\' Ann 'A': was married to W. H. Haj^les. vShe 
died I)ecend)er S, 1S77. He died April i.S. 1S79, They 
had seven children —Marian lai, Albert 0)), Edmund ic', 
Chark's 'd,i (leorge 'v'. P'rank 'f' and Philip l.i^). 

Marian la': was married: had two children. 

Albert '111; still livin.ij. 

P'.ilninnd 'ci; still livin>,^ 

Charles kP; still li\-inj;\ 

Oeorge 'ci; siill li\-in,t;. 

P'rank <f): still living. 

Piiilip g': still lix-ing. 

I.\-MKS CKI.';PH, NO. XII. 

Janus Crispe, Xn. XII, the iwclflh child of John 
Crisjjc and Ivli/.abeth Shirley, w.is a bachelor. He died 
when 2 I \ears of age. 

]a)W.\KD CKI.SPH, NO. .XIII. 

luUvard Crispe, Xo. XIII, the tliirteenth child of 
John Crispe and ICH/.abeth Shirley, was a bachelor, and 
died in 1 Soo. 

In connection with the Cris[)e folks at Sutton \'al- 
ance. I am jileased to mention ih.at I am under obliga- 
tions to Miss Farmer for the very generous a.ssistance 
she gave me in looking up the records at the church, and 
I remember her for her hospitality, which she rendered to 



is6 THK HISTORY OF 



1113' wife and self wliile we were gathering notes at Sutton 
Valance in 1900. 

Tlie Crispe family at Sutton Valance were all mem- 
liers of the I'Ipiscopal Church, and their sympathies in- 
clined towards Charles the First in the memorable strife 
with Cromwell: and among them were some few who 
raised troo])S and fought in the ranks of the Cavaliers. 

The Puritanic hranch of the Crispe family dates back 
to the days of persecution in England: Henry Crispe, 
of Birehington, whom we remember was a Puritan, and 
kidnapped to raise a ransom of /.3000: and also to the 
famous and learned Reverends Tol)iasand Samuel Crispe. 
The Puritanic 1)ranch of the family emigrateil to Amer- 
ica with the Puritans, and they pla\-ed an important part 
in the Colonial hist<iry of the ITnited States: while the 
Episcopal Crispes did not come to America until I.S52. 




MKS. I.WIKS CKISPK 




1 . MAk\'S Ul'ISi t iI'AI, (HrKlll. 

'Sultnll \ .il.ili. ,M 



PART II, 








i.ii;i:k i v \vi;lci imim, i hi w < 'Ki d 



THE CRISPE FAMILY OF AMERICA. 



United States and Canada. 



THF. LANDING OF THF. I'll.GKIMS. 



The breakinji waves dashed hi';!! 

On a ^tt-rn and rock-bound coast, 
And tlie woods against a stormy sky 

Their i;iant branrhcs tossed. 

And the heavy nifjht hung dark 

The hills and waters o'er, 
When a band o( exiles moored their bark 

On the wild New F.nijiand shore. 

Not as the conqueror comes. 

They, the true-hearted, came; 
Not with the roll of stirring drums 

.And the trumpets that sings a flame. 

What sought they thus afar? 

Bright jewels of the mine. 
The wealth of seas, the spoils of war? 

They so\ight a faith's pure shrinel 

Ay, call it holy ground. 

The soil where first tliey trod; 
Thev have left unstained what there they foimd, 

Freedom to worship God. 

— Fi'/it'ia Hem am. 



FREEDOM. 



America for Ireedoml 

That was the old-time cry. 
The word for which our fatlier's stood 

To battle or to die. 
From throned oi^pression tlc-eing 

They felt the galling chain 
A tyrant held within his hand 

To pluck them back again. 

The word from which they started 

The globe has girdled round; 
Across the seas and deserts-- 

The wild man knows the sound; 
And something of its story 

That lifts our hearts to-day. 
How one heroic handful barred 

The old wrong from its way. 

— 7;///a War.i Howr 



THE CRISPK FAMILY. lOs 



I'KOKM ni IHK CRISl'F. FAMILY 
OF THF. NFW WORLD. 

The following from J. C^,. Blaine's memorial address 
on James A. Garfield is of considerable interst to the peo- 
ple of Hngnenot and Pnrilan extraction: 

"From the landing of tlie Pilgrims at Pl\inontli 
till the uprising against Charles I., abont twenty thons- 
and emigrants came from Old F^igland to New ICngland. 
As the\' came in pnrsnit of intellectual freedom and ec- 
clesiastical indepemlence rather than for worldlx' honor or 
profit, the emigration natnralh- ceasL-d when the contest 
for religiotis liberty began in earnest at home. The man 
who struck his most effective blow for freedom of con- 
science by sailing for the Colonies in 1620 would have 
lieen accoimted a deserter to leave after 1640. The op- 
porHuiit\- liad then come on the soil of Fjigland for that 
great contest which estatili.shed the autltorily of Parlia- 
ment, gave religious freedom to the people, sent Charles 
to the block, and committed to the hands of Oliver 
Cromwell the supreme executive authority of England. 
The Fjiglish emigration was nev'er renewed, and from 
these twent}.- thousand men, with a small emigration 
from Scotland and from France, are descended the vast 
numbers who have Xew England blood in their veins. 

In 16S5 the revocation of the edict of Nantes, by 
Louis XI\'., scattered to other countries four hundred 



1 66 ■ THK HISTORY OF 

thousand Protestants, who were among the most intelH- 
.>;ent and enterprising of French sul)jects — merchants of 
capital, skilled manufacturers and handicraftsmen, super- 
ior at the time tn all others in Europe. A considerable 
nuniher of these Huguenot-I-'rench canie to America; a 
few landed in New luigland and Ijecanie honoralily prom- 
inent in its histnrw Their names have, in large part, 
became Anglicized, or have disappeared, but their blood 
is traceable in many of the most reputable families, and 
their fame is jK-rpetuated in honorable memorials and use- 
ful institutions. iMcim these Iwo sciurces, the Ivnglish- 
Purilan and JmcucIi Huguen<its, came the late President; 
his father, Abraham Garfield, being descended from the 
one, and his mother, Kli/.a ballnu, from the otlur. 

It was good stock on both sides — none better, none 
bra\'er, none truer. There was in it an inheritance of 
courage, of manliness, of im]K'rishablt- love of liberty, 
of und\ing adherance to principle. Carfield was proud 
(if hi> blodd; ami, with as nuich satisfaction as if he were 
a P>ritisli imlilcman reading his >latel\- ancestral record in 
liurke'^ Peerage, he >]ii>ke uf himself as ninth in descent 
from Ihcise wliii would not endure the op]iression of the 
Sluait--, and se\intli in discent from the brave French 
Pnitestanls who refused to submit to tyran\' e\'en from 
the ( 'irand Monarcpie. 

" (Uneral Carlield delighted to dwell on these traits; 
and dining his onlv x'isit to luigland he busied himself in 
discci\'ering e\-er\- trace of his forefathers in parish reg- 



Til]'. CRISIM' I'AMILV 



isters and on ancient arnn- rolls. Sitting with a friend 
in tlie g;aller\- of the Ilonse of Cimnuotis (ine ni);ht after 
a lont^ day's hihor in this fiekl of lesearch, lie said, with 
e\'idenl ehition, that in exx-ry war in which, for ll!ree 
centuries, patriots of ICnghsh blood had struck sturdy 
blows for constitutional government and human liberty, 
Iiis family had been represented. They were at Marston 
Moore, at Xasel)y and at Preston; they were at Bunker 
Hill, at Saratoga, and at Monmouth, and in his own per- 
son had battled for the same great cause in the war 
which jireserxed the I'tnon of the States." 



Till'; CKISl'H FAMILY. 173 



Till' CRISPI' FAMILY IX COLONIAL AMERICA. 

Of tlic main- classes of colonists who settled this 
W'l.-'terii Rejmlilic, by far the most illustrious were the 
Puritans and the Ilutjuenots. Their names, alike coined 
as e])ithets of contempt and derision, ha\'e become the 
brightest on the historic pages of America. Their fame 
rests on their heroic sacrifices. Not for gold, nor adven- 
ture, nor disco\-ery. did they seek the foresi-clad shores 
of New ICngland, but for the sake of worshiping God ac- 
cording to the dictates of their conscience. The one peo- 
ple exiled and e.xterininated, the other persecuted and 
tortured, they alike tied from the intolerance of the 
governments, and this crime cost Charles the First his 
head and ie\-ohuioni/.ed the luiglish monarchy, and 
Louis Xl\'. ])aid the ]>enalt\- by receivin.g the scorn of 
all lovers of libertw 

It is uiniecessary to recite the gross injustice done to 
the Puritans, nor need I detail to the readers of this book 
the long siege of snfferin.g of these champions of reli,g- 
ious freedom. 

The Crispe people were among this stiu'dy folk, and 
their devotion to the cause was proven in their deserting 
friends aiul home, and cliosing the snow-clad hills to 
warm hearths at home. 

The Crispe people came over with Rodger Williams 
and John ICliot. the latter young ministers: and John 



174 THE HISTORY OF 

Wiiithrop, Jr., sou of Governor \\'iiithrop, of Ihe Mas- 
sachusetts Colouy, cani(j witli theui. The Crispes set- 
tled at Watertown, near Old Salem, Massachusetts, 
where they continued to li\-c and prosper for many gen- 
erations. Benjamin Crispe anil Ikidget, his wife, had 
fi\-e children — h^lizalieth, Mar>-, Jonathan, Mehitalile and 
Zachariah. Benjamin Crispe was married a second time, 
his next wife beint; Joanna Lom;le>-, and to them was 
born one dauo;liter, Deliverance Crispe. Benjamin and 
his wife lived for a short time at (jroten, Massachusetts, 
and we will learn more of him and his famih- later in this 
book. Amonj,' the other Crispe emigrants were Richard 
Crispe and family, Geortje Crispe and family and Sarah 
Crispe. 

Before giving an extended account of the interesting 
careers of these early settlers, it will be wise lo describe 
and finish the sketch of the "Crispe Grant of Land in 
Maine," since this grant was cotemporary with the land- 
ing of the Crispes at Boston, Massachusetts. After de- 
scriliing the history of this grant of land in Maine we wdll 
return to the Crispes of Boston and resume our study of 
these Puritans. 

The following occurs in the records of the Massa- 
chusetts Bay Company, page 92, volune I: 

"Oct. 2S, 1631. It is ordered that there shall be 
takeu out of the estate of Mr. Crispe and his Company 
the some of xij £- js.- vd; and delivered to John Kirman. 
as his p. p. goods, and after the whole estate to be inven- 



THi: CRISPl': FAMILY. 175 

torNX'd thereof tlie saiil John Kinnan is to have an Sth 
])arte: this to be done with all convenient speed by theis 
five coinniissioners. or any three of tb.em, vz: Mr. Johu 
Masters, Robert Feakes, Mr. ]{d\vard Ciil>bons, F^phariin 
Childe. Daniel F'xiich." 

THK CRISPE CKANT OF LAND, 

The jiarticulars of this grant are taken from the 
Maine Historical and Genealog-ical Record. The article 
is by .\lexaniler Rigby, and can lie f(.innd on pages 66-77, 
\'olnnie II. It reads as follows: 

•• The Plongh Patent.— On the ''■ih of July, 1631, 
Ciovenior W'inthrop made the following entry in his 
journal; 

" ■ A small ship of sixty tons arrived at Natascott, 
Mr. Graves, Master. She brought ten passengers from 
London. They came with a patent to Sagadahock, but 
not liking the place, they came hither. These were the 
company called the Llusbandmen, and their ship called 
the Plough.' 

"[Note: W'inthrop Journal, 3rd edition, I, 69: comp. 
Hubbard, New England, 141 -142 — There was a ship 
called the Plough, 160 tons, owned in 1627 by James, 
Ivirl of Carlisle, and afterwards .sold (1628) to Captain 
Thomas Combes & Morrice Thompson, who were granted 
letters of marque that year. The next year (23 Nov., 
1629) William Cock, master of the 'Plough of London,' 
relates the circumstances of the capture of the island of 
St. Christopher's by a large Spanish fleet. (Calendar 



176 THl' HISTORY OF 

Domestic State Papers, 1627-1629). The Plough which 
carried the Husbandnien left B<isloii for St. Christopher's 
a few weeks after her arri\'al. hut was compelled to put 
back on account of stress of weather, 'and was so broke 
she could not return home.' ( Winthrop, Journal, p,<\ 
edition, I, 72). Hubbard adds: 'They laid her bones 
there.' Histor>- of New England, 141-142.] 

"We are here first introduced to a bodx- of emi,c;rants 
constitntins' the advance guard of a society of religious 
pei>ple who intended to establish a crilony on the new 
Engli.sh shores, where the>- hoped to be freed from the 
persecutions which had followed Iheni at home. This 
' Company of Husbandmen' lirought with them a pat- 
ent from the Council for New England, dated 26 June, 
1630, [Note: This date is taken from a contemporary man- 
uscript in th.e possession of the Maine Historical Societ\', 
and, to my knowledge, has ne\-er before been published] , 
wliich granted luito Bryan Bincks, John Dye, John 
Smith, Thomas Jupe, John Crispe, and their associates, a 
tract of land forty miles square, [Note: The loss of the 
original patent ( and no verbatim copies are known to be 
in existence) precludes the formation of any definite 
knowledge of the boundaries of this patent. Hubbard 
locates it 'south of the Sagadahoc river' and 'twenty 
miles from the sea side.' (History of New England, 
510. ) Maverick, writing in 1660, says: ' There was a 
patent granted to Christo. Balcelor and Company in the 
year 1632, or thereabouts, for the mouth of the ri\-er 




I 111. siiir iM. Ill (ill. 




^F.AI.S ON CRlSI'l-. I'Al'l-.KS^ 



THI' CRISIM'. FAMILY. i8i 

KeiiiR-bcc, and some tract of land adjacent.' ( Egerton 
MSS. 23<)5, folio ,'im7.) An anonynions writer, about 
i^-'vS, speaks of ' a i)atent of Sagadahock i^ranted Crispc 
and others,' i MSS. No. ,i44>!, Krilisli Museum i, and an- 
other conteni]iorar\- alludes to it as ' a Patent for Mr. 
Cris])e and otlurs for ,Sa<:;adahock.' ( Colonial Papers, 
Public Record Office. II, if>i. 'Two islends in the river 
Saf^adaliock near the South Side thereof, about sixty 
miks from the Sea' were included in the srant, but it is 
not yjossilile to locate such islands in this ri\er i Sulli\'an, 
Ilistorv of Maine, ,^ioi, though it is e\-ident that the 
Council supposed them to be there. In the minutes of 
their proceedinjjs they decided to reserve 'for the publike 
])lantation '■■ •■■ the two great Islands h'ing- in \-e ri\er 
of Sagailalioc' > Colonial Papers; II, 6. i The location and 
extent of this grant were ne\-er distinctly understood, 
and from the first the indefinite terms and description 
became freciueul sources of contro\'ers>' and misuuder- 
standing between the grantors and grantees of the patent. 
"The partners remaining in London wrote, tnider 
date of March S, 1631, to the Colonists, as fol- 
lows: ' W'e ga\-e >'ou nottes by Mr. .\llerton [Note: 
This was Isaac Allerton, of the Pilgrim Colony 
at Plymouth]. Wee hope \-ciu ha\e long since re- 
cei\ed it; that wee ha\-e had much ado abonght our 
pattent. & thai there was one Hradshaw that had pro- 
cured letters of pattern for a part, as we supposed, of our 
former grant, and so wee think still, but he and Sir Fer- 



i82 THK HISTORY OF 



(linando Georgas think it is not in our bounds. [Note: 
Richard Bradshaw was granted a patent for 1500 acrt-s 
of land 'above the liedd of Pashippscot on the north side 
thereof,' 2, Now, 1631, having been 'hving tliere some 
\ears before." { Minutes, Council for New Ivngkuid), 
Hradshaw, howe\-er, was given possession of this amount 
of land at the Spnrwink river h\- Captain Neale, and 
afterwards sold lii> rights there to Richard Tucker, who 
settled thereon ;ind, with his partner George Cleeve 
tried to maintain this claim against theTrelawny Patent 
but unsuccessfulh'. Trelawn\' Papers, 32, 207, 229,308] 
He was frustrated of his fnrst purpose of coming over 
l)Ut is now joNiied with 2 \ere able ca]itens iS: merchants 
which will ->et him over. iV. wee sojjowse will be ther a' 
sown as thi> ship, if not before. Wee can not posible 
relate unto >-ou the labur and truble that wee ha\e had to 
establish our former grant. [Note: This woidd indicate 
the existence of a prior grant which became void, and 
nia\- account for the allusions to the various patents 'for 
Sagadahock' spoken of in a previotis note.] Mane rufe 
words wee ha\e had from Sir Fferdiniando at the fTurst, 
and to this houer he douth afferm that he never gave 
con>ent, that \ ou should ha\-e aboute forte milles in 
length and twent\- milles in breath, and sa\s that his 
own land is not to your pattent if it is to ha\-e an\- more: 
so we have done our goode willes and have procured his 
lea.se and the man promises that wee shall have no 
wronge. WVe ha\'e Ix-stowed a sugar lofi.- upon him, of 



Till'. CklSPK FAMILY. 1.S3 



some 16 s. ]irise and he hath promised to do us all the 
uood he can/ fXote: Mass^ Hist. Coll., \'II, (>4-g(i: 
'The comj)an\- t'lirtlier says res]>eclin)J^ the dilTicnlty about 
their i^raiU: Wee can ])roquer nothin,!;e vder his lumd, 
but in our hirini^t- he i;a\-e order tnito Mr. Airc^ to wrii.;ht 
inUo Ca]itin \e\ le, of I'ascatoway , tliat Hradshaw &. wee 
nu.nht be bnunded. that wee niaywht not truble ech other, 
and ha\e .i;i\en the Captin coinand to serch your patten, 
what it is you lia\e \(ler ni\- lorils hand and his. Wee 
need not C"unse]l vou what tn do in that case, only wee 
tjiee \ou nottev of it. desirintje (lod t<i direct Nou that 
no ju-it ocation nia\" be j;i\en one our parts to be e\ell 
>pokin of. \\\c .t;a\e Sir Fferdinfjand this resen why 
wee desired so lari; a patten, because that the grette>t 
part of it was not habitable, bein^ rocke. wer no man 
coidd life; ^: he ansored wee shoulld not doubt but 
be allowed enofe for x-; all, iS: in the best part of it, 
according; to our desire: but if wee should li.ixe so much 
as wee sav thev have granted vs, then do wee include 
ilifers of ther former ])laiitations, which they nex'er 
inleiideil. This coiUerfers must be ended between vour 
sellfes and such i;ufeliiers of them of I'inecpied as th<-v 
lia\'e apointed.'] 

" The owners of this patent with its perpetual lease 
to heirs and assigns were members of the strange sect of 
religions enthusiasts called the l"amil\- of l.ove, or I'am- 
ilists, who fTourished in Holland and luigland during the 
latter half of the sixteen an<l first half of the seventeenth 



i84 THF, HISTORY OF 

centuries. The founder, Henry Nicholas, a native of 
Westpahha, originallj- an Anabaptist, taug^ht that re- 
ligion conriority over Christ on the ground that Moses 
only preached hope, Christ faith, while he preached love. 
Queen Elizabeth instituted an investigation into 
their practices, which resulted in their dispersion and 
tile burning of their books and propert>'. They continued 
til fliuirish, howe\'er, in a precarious way for about a cen- 
tury, but finally expired under a continual battery of ridi- 
cule in i>rose and verse. [Note: Interesting particulars 
concerning this peculiar sect may be read in Knewsttib's 
'Computation of Monstrous & Horrible Heresies Taught,' 
1)\' H. N. itc., London 1579: Rogers' 'Displaying of an 
Horrible Secte, &c.,' London, 1579; 'Baster's Autobiog- 
raphy' 77; 'Strype's Annals,' ij 57; 'Mosheim's Eccles- 
iastical History,' chap. xvi]. The London partners al- 
lude to this persecution when the\- adjur the Colonists to 
be united and ' put to shame and silance mane that do 
now shamfulle ris up against vs. [Mass. Hist. Coll., vii 
94-96]. Such were the Company of Hu.sbandmen who 
came to our shores in the Plough, and their proposed 
colony was to be operated upon the communistic principle 
of equal division of expenses and profits, and would be- 
come in time an asylum for the oppressed brethren in 
England. [Note: The 'ten passengers' constituting the 
first lot of colonists cannot be all identified. So far as 
determined they were Bryan Binckes, Peter Johnson, 
John Kerman, John Smith, 'Mr.' (John) Crispe, and the 



Till'. CklSPI-; l-AMILV. 



1 Sc, 



'sons' of 'Coodniaii Taiua).;!.-'] , The tinulitinu of nieni- 
l)<.-rslii]> in this advciitun.- wcrt- n,-li,L;ii)ns alliliatinn and a 
suliscriinion of / Ki to tin.- comnion stcjck. Inn thoiiuh 
iIk- foinKT was not siiictlv i.-ss<.-ntial tlu- l.ittt-r was a 
iK-CL->sar\- ri.-cniisit'--. The Ijiisinuss nianai;einent of this 
I L'huions scheme- was conchictud li\iiR-nilii-rs of thesocii-t\- 
in London, principally 1)\ John ]>\v. 'dwillint; in l-'illjiott 
l.anr,' ("iiaci' Hardwin, Thomas jnpi.- and lohn Koch, 
'dwillini; in Crooked l.anr,' Init il nia\' here he said in 
])roceeilini;s in liankniptcN', for the eoloni>I-- never settled 
on their ])atent. before brethren in London conld hear 
from their friends on llie lMoni;h. the obitnarvof the 
eolon\ had lieeii written be Winthrop. 

" [A conteniporarv mann.scri])t in the jiossession of 
the Maine Historical Society, which was drawn iii>liy the 
attorne\- for the Rii;by hiirs. contains the followiiiij state- 
im-nt; In the \ear t(\v>. the sd ISryan liiiicks, John 
.Smith and others associates. .t;o personally into New 
l{nt;land and settle their.seh'es iti Casco liay. near the 
south side of Satjadahock. and lay out considerable stuns 
(if monev in jilantini; there, and make laws and consti- 
tntion< for the well rnlin>; and so\eiinn,LC of their sd 
riantations ,ind I'nniiux'. With the ])ositi\e statements 
of Winthrop, Hubbard. .M,i\-erick and other conteiiijior- 
ary writers to the contrary, it is not jirobable that this 
anthoritv is entitled to full credit.] 

" It would be iinnece<sar\- to occiipv further spare 
th.ni to record their epitaph did not the letters of the 



igo THE HISTORY OF 

Ldiuloii jjarttiers. written to the colonists in ignorance of 
the collapse of the scheme, nnfolil to ns the elaborate 
preparations made i)\' them for securing a ])ermanent es- 
tablishment, and sending reinforcements to it. Under 
(late of March, ifi,v, they say: 'Our tiui b.ath bin 
taken up with fordringe, hel;)inge and pro\'iding thinges 
fittinge for these our brethren that are now to come imto 
\ou,' and we are informed therein that two vessells with 
colonists were to be dispatched forthwith. These two 
ves,sells, the Whale and the William and Francis, lioth of 
London, set sail March 9th and April Stli, 1632, respect- 
i\-eh-, liearing, in addition to the colonists, a numtjer of 
disginshed jx-rsons. In the Whale, which arrived May 
26lh came John Wilson and Richard Dummer ( who held 
a commission from the London partners ) 'and about thirty 
passengers, all in health.' In the William and Francis, 
which arri\ed June 5th, came Governor Ivdward Wins- 
low, Thomas Wilde (who published twelve years later 
'A Short Stor>- of the Rise, Reign and Ruin of the Anti- 
noniians, I'aniilists and Libertines that Infested the 
Churches of New England' ), Stephen Bachiler, their aged 
pastor in London, transferred from thence to mi.ssionary 
labors in the colony, and about sixty passengers. [Note: 
The members of the 'Companie Husbandmen,' as far as 
has been determined, comprise twenty-three names, viz: 
John Dye, John Roach, Grace Hardwin, Thomas Jupe, 
John Robinson, Roger Binks, Nathaniel Whetham, 
Henry Fawkes, Brian Kipling, Nathaniel Harresse, John 



THl'; CKISPlv FAMILY. 191 



Ask-ii. Pc-ter W'ooster, Thomas Payne, Stephen Bachelor, 
Kit-hard Ihininier. John Keniian, John Sniilli, Nathaniel 
Merrinian. John Hane^ler. I'etir Johnson. P>ryan Binkes, 
■(icxxhnan' Taniadj^e, John Crispc — the hist ele\-en of 
whom were colonists. In the car,>;o of these two vessels 
came invoicis of merchandise for the use and ])rorit of 
the colon>-. and an eniniieration of some of them mijjht lie 
the hest exidence of the ii^iiorance of the business mana- 
j^ers of tile conditions necessar>- to the success of their 
\enture. ' 

Reverend Stejihen Bacliiler. a disianl relati\-e of the 
emigrant, lias written tin.' followint;: 

" As early as ii>,V' Bacliiler had determined to leave 
lvns.;land and si'ttle in .Xmerica. At all eeeiUs he had 
made iireparalioiis for such .a removal. Maverick, in his 
' Descrijitions of New h'.ngland,' says: ' There was a 
])alent i;Tanted to Christo. Batchelor &: Companie. [Note: 
This must mean Chrisjie. Batchelor «.S: Company-. John 
Chiisjie. or Crispe. as the name was commonly spelled 
and written, and Stephen Bacliiler were grantees named 
in the jxiteiit] , in the \ear 1632, or thereabouts, for the 
mouth of the river < Sagadahocke > and some tract of land 
adjacent who came over in the sliip Plough and termed 
themselves the Plough Cotn])aiiie, but soon scattered, 
some for X'irginia. some for haigland, some to the Mas- 
■sachusetts. never settling on the land.' Some ga\-e the 
date of the Plough l.inding as June :('\ iri;,o." [See Maine 
Hist, and C.eneo. Record, \olunie II, jiage 6(1. Adili- 



192 THI- HISTORY OF 



tional references on this grant page 62, volume XLVI, 
iSi;2. Addiliciiial notes in the Sagadahocke grant, ]iage 
,'i4, \olunie XXXIX, continued page 157 of same 
\nlume. Crispc and Sagadah(jck patents, vnhnne \'II , 
])age ;,i, Cnllectious of Mass. Hist. Societ\ . Plough, 
Ship, \i)lunie \', ]->age 141, Mas^. Hist. Societ\-, New 
l''.ngland Hist, and Ceneo. Reg., \iilume XL, page 71]. 
The phraseology and spelling of the foregoing old 
Colcmial article is rather an anomaly in ])resent time 
lingli^h, lint I reproduced it as it was fouutl from docu- 
mentary e\-idence. It ma>- seem to those who are un- 
familiar with these old-time writings as heing evidence of 
iliteracv, Init such is not the case, since in those da\s 
our language contained such expressions, and the words 
were thus peculiarly spelled. The Colonial history of our 
countr\- abounds in grants of this character, and the 
terminology is ([uite in keeping with the progress of the 
epoch. 

CKISPES WITH THE PILGRIMS AT BOSTON. 

In the study of these people of the Plymouth Colony 
the first political interest in Amercan history is developed. 
We see the first faint expression of principles which have 
become cherished household words to later generations, 
and have to a very great extent influenced the structure 
and fabric of our form of go\-enmient. No doubt the 
Crispe Pilgrims assisted in this initiatory- work, and lent 
every po.ssible strength to carr\' out the purpose of the 
will of these devout settlers. Though the records of 



/\ ^. 




I.I KKINC W ARKKiRS. 




ColiiMAl. S(i1.1iII:K.S 



THIC CRISl']' I'AMILV. 197 

these early cninc-rs are not as extensive as we wish, yet 
snllicieiU evidence is at liand to di-nionstrate the acti\'e 
part taken 1)\- tile Crispe enii.t;raHls. 

The first ineideiil \vi>rtli>' ni record after the arrival 
of tlu- Crispe ix-ople at Salem, l'I\iiiouth, ISoston ami 
\\','itert<i\\ii is ill the form of a iiieiiioranda that " Heiija- 
luin Crispe assisted in the buildiiii; of the first church in 
Hostoii. Tlu' church was made of mud-walls and the 
roof was thatched. ■ ' i Xewmau's America, page 192). 

The first election liallots of ])aper-sli])s were used in 
a local election in lioston in if\i5. ;iii<l fieor.ne Crispe in a 
letter sjieaks of them as follows: 

■■ PajKT ballot sli]is were used to-da\- and 1)>- an onler 
<'f the authorities this manner of electing shall coutituie 
hereafter." 

On page igi of the New I'.uglaiul Historical and 
(Genealogical Register we learn that "lienjamin Crispe has 
taken the oath of allegiance to the Plxuiouth Colony." 
This oath of fidelit\' meant that he acknowledged the 
laws coming from the Plymouth Colony as superior to 
those coining from Ivnglaiid. The (late is given as 1641. 

In volume X'lII, page 1S7, of the Reconl of Pl\-- 
mouth C()lon\-, it gives the "names of males who are able 
to liear arms and under the age of sixt\' years." Among 
these names is that of (icorge Crisiie, and the registra- 
ti<in is dated 1643. 

The New luigland Historical and denealogical Reg- 
ister, ])age 159. \-olume \"II, has the following entr>-: 



igS THE HISTORY OF 

" Benjamin Crispe and his wife, Rridwct, had t\vn dant^h- 
lers, inizalie-tli, l)orn at Watcrtown, MassachusL-tls. vShe 
was horn Nn\-end)fr the Sth. Johnatlian Crispe, their 
son, \\as horn Xo\-eniber 21;, i(^\''-,g. I']lea/ar, their son, 
was horn Xo\enil>er 14, 1(141. Tlie\- also liad Mary (no 
hirthch'ix- >4i\-en), Meliitahle (no hirthde\- gi\-enl, and 
Zacliariah (no Iiirtliday gix'enl. lienjaniin Crispe was 
married a second time, his second wife hcins; Joanna 
Longley. Tn tliem were liorn one dau<;hter, Deh\-erance 
Crispe." 

A more precise acconnt is .t^ix'en in the Savage Gen- 
ealogical Dicticinary, jiage 47;,, \-olnme I, and reads: 

"Crisp, or Cris])e — Pjenjamin, of Watertown, 1630, 
freeman, jC^^Ct^ had Ii\- wife Bridget: h^i/aheth, wdio was 
horn Jan. .sth, ii'i.^j: Mar>-, horn 2otli Ma\-, i''\^S: Jona- 
than, horn 2i)th Jan., 1(140: Itk-a/ar, horn 14 Jan,, 1(142; 
Mehilalile, horn 21 Jan., 1(14(1; and Zacliariah. From 
Piond we learn that in 1(130 he was servant of Major 
(lihbons, and |ierha]is came as earl\- as 1(129; late in life 
rem. to (irnteii, cir C.roton, hiil was ret, hefore 1(182 to 
\\\ , and had m. Joanna, widow of William Longley. 
hdizalieth married 27 or 2c), Sept., i(i,S7, George Law- 
rence." 

" In 1^44, George Crisjie and a few friends founded 
the \-illage of Fasthain, Massacluisetts." ( Volnme \'I. 
1S52, New Kngland Historical and Genealogical Register. 

George Crisjie was ver\' much interested in the wel- 
fare of Ivastham, and he was several times elected to 



THl'. CRISIM- I'AMILV. 199 



town offices. An eiitr\- iiuuk' in 1656 rends: "Surveyors 
of tile Ili.ulnvaies, Ivisthani, Mass.. Oeorge Crispe, John 
Ma>o." I l'aL;e loi, \(.liiiiie III. Recorils of r'lyiiioulli 
Colony. Xath. B. SclnntlelT 1. 

.AnioiiLj the jurors of the first inquest known to Xcw 
]'Ji.i;lan(l wl- observe the name of C.eor.ue Crispe. The 
jury re])orted to the Court as follows: 

lOAjS. wee, whose names are luulerwrittcn, being 
ini]):iiiele<l U]ioii a jury, the first d.iy of January. 1 667, 
to serireh :inil iii(|uire. aceordini^ to best measure of wis- 
donie and discretion Ciod hatli i;iven us. concernint,'^ a 
child about five or six years old which was kejit by John 
SiiKillev. Sen., of ICastliam. Mass., bein.u found dead in 
the Woods, about six or seven miles from the house of 
John Siiialle\- aforesaid, wee doe all jud.tje that it came to 
his death by strayiii,<j; .away, lost its rii;ht path to gett 
home a.i;aine, and was killed b\- cold. lienjamin Hi.i;- 
gins. Will. .Sutton. S;ini. Dolteii. hdles White, l-^dm. 
h'oard, ]5enj. Spiller, Rob, Wix,mi. Cieor.ue Crispe, Will. 
Twuiiii;. Rich. Knowls, John Vount;." > Page 177, \ol- 
niiie I\'. Record of l'l\-moutIi Colony. 

This niav not seem in strict .accordance with Puri- 
tanic customs, but it illustrates conditions: 

" ( )ct -,, 1662 — (ieor.s;e Crispe being presented for re- 
ceiviu.g into his house some licjtior, or such like goods, 
illegall\- taken, though he kiK'w it not, and stiffering 
some disordi'rs in his house, is lined twenty sliillings." 
I Page 39, volume I\', Record of I'lviiKiuth Coloin-. Wife 



THI', HISTORY OF 



tfstified in same case, and given in same reference. ) 

The folliiwiug apjiears among the decisions of the 
Court: 

" i('i(i(), March. Richard Bisliop for pr loging of 
j> sell of sheep vvoole from George Crispe, is centanccd 
to [jay the said Crispe the same of t\vent>- shillings upon 
demand, on receipt whereof hee is to rest satisfied con- 
cerning the matter, and the said J-iishop cleared." ( Page 
31, volume \", Record of Plymouth Colon>-. ) 

Oeorge Cri.spe is mentioned as a juror: " i(')72, 
("rrand luKpiest. Junes. George Crispe." (Pagegi, 
\'olume \', Record of Ph'inouth Colonw ) 

Richard Crispe, Boston, ]K-rmitted to teach fencing, 
ifisfi. (Ill Massachusetts Historical Collection, \-olume, 
III, page 157. ) 

We find that George Crispe is registered as a free- 
man: " ifSyo, May 29. Freeman of Kastham, Massa- 
chusetts, George Crispe." ( Page 278, volume V, Rec- 
ord of Plymouth Colony. 

He is enrdlled as ha\-ing sworn allegiance to the 
Pl>'niouth Colony, and the record is dated as follows; 
" 1637. F'astham. Took oath of fidelit>', George Crispe." 
(Page 1.S4, volume VIII, Record of Plymouth Colony) 

The oath of allegiance included in it the oath of su- 
premancy, and this latter affirmation stated that the Pope 
at Rome was not recognized as authority in ecclesiastical 
or temporal affairs. The oath of allegiance is of interest 
t(i us, and I have co]>ied it: 




I'li.cKiMS (",(ii\(; I'll cHrkcii. 




KF.\I.KK\li |(WI\ WIll.KI.WKIC.iri'. 



Til]' CRISI'l'; FAMILY 



" I do swc-ar solenil>' in the presence of the Great 
Jelivoah, to l.e a ]iarl of this IhkIv ]iiilitie nf lhi> C(il(iii> , 
and as He >liall 1k1[) >is, will snlniiit (lur ]iersnns, lhin.t;s 
and estates nnto the J,(ji(1 Jesus Christ — tlie King of 
kiii^s and I.md (if lords: ami to all these most jierfect 
lawscf His i;i\en us in lli^ most huh word of truth to 
lie guided and judged thereby. " 

The following brief aeeount b\- Saxage in his I)ie- 
ti<inar\ (if ( K'nealdgy sa\s page 47,^ \dlnmel: 

" Riehard Crispe of Uoston, merehant, came from 
Jamaica, Rhode Island, mairied into Hannah, widow of 
litnjamin Richards, danghler of William Hudson, Jr., and 
mariied Sarah, \'oung(.st daughter of Re\-. John W'lieel- 
wright, brotlier-in lawof Mr-. Anna Hutchinson, andliwd 
not long aft(.T, I jiresinne: had a daughter, Sarah, born 
15 Sipt,, 1(^-2. who niatried A]iril 11, I'los, William 
Hairis: mariied next 3 A])ril, 17J2, I'resident Leverett 
(of Ilar\-ard College ): iriarrii'd next 1 5lh Jul>', 172s. to 
Hon. John Clark, and h.ad for her fourth husband Rew 
lleiiiamin Coleman. Sin- died 24 A]iril, 1744." 
Ki':i..\Ticn To Kr:\-KRKNr) whhici.wkicii'i' .\xn axxa 

UrTCIIINSoX. 

We note with considerable interest that the Crisjie 
famile were related to the famus Colonial minister of the 
gospel, the Re\-erend John Wheelwright, wdio was tile 
eiithusi.istic supporter of bo'Ji Rodger Williams and 
Mrs. Anna Hulchinxin. 

In i^w^' R'>g>-'' \\'iniams, who was an intimate 



2o6 THI': HISTORY OF 

friend of the Crispe family, was banished from the Col- 
ony, and the Crispe people l)elie\'ing in the lil>eral ideas 
as ad\Ticated Ijy Williams, were much at loss as to church 
affiliations. The rulers of the Colony who had ordered 
Williams from their midst, had scarcely recovered their 
e(|uinaniity before similar difficulties arose from iniex- 
]iected quarters. Religious discussions formed a large 
part of the life of the Colonists. Meetinss were held by 
the men, and portions of the Scriptures read and dis- 
I'ussed: and the sermons of the ministers made the sub- 
ject of searching criticism. The women might attend the 
meetings, but they were not permitted to take part in the 
deliberations. One of the disciples of Roger Williams 
— Mrs. Anna Hutchinson, a woman of great talent, 
elo(|uence and great energy of character — claimed for her 
sex the right to participate in the study and analysis of 
Christian life. This privilege was denied her, and she 
in consequence in\-ited the women to her own home, and 
there she hoped to discuss freely and uninterruptedh- the 
subjects pertaining to the Bible and Christianitw Her 
meetings were so largely attended that finally she in\-ited 
the men. She declared, as did all her followers, that the 
authority of private and indixidual judgment was free 
and superior to that declared by the churches, and con- 
dennied the polic>' of the magistrates to enforce a system 
of conformity of belief. She was greatly encouraged in 
this noble work b>- her iirother-in-law, the famous Rever- 
end Tolin Wheelwright. Even Henrv \'ane — afterwards 



THK CRISi']' I'AMII.Y. 



Sir Hc-iiry \'anc — nllen(k-(l her iiKx-tings, and when, in 
iIk- fdllowiiiii; year Sir IIeiir>- was elected Governor of 
tlu- Colony- he beini;- indnied with the righteotisness of 
Mrs. Ilutehinson's and Wheelwriiihl's ]iriucij)les — hi.' 
tolerated a most liberal ])olicy towards them and their 
fellow lieliex'ers. TIu- ministers of the '■ straijjht -jacket 
order " accepted yonn.i; X'ane's ])!ans with considerable 
alarm; their cluirch Ixin^; thiinied. while the halls, 
idia]iels and nu-L-tinL; houses coidd not contain the Inuid- 
reds thai llockt-d to hear him. 

The nnnisters saw that their atnhority was bi'ing 
menaci.-d liy this new mid liberal bc-lirf, and made it their 
common purpose to insti.i^ate trouble for Mrs. Hutchin- 
son and RL-\ereiul W'heelwri.sjht : as well were the min- 
isters n]) in arms against ( loxernor \'ane for tolerating- 
snch liberalits'. The cause continued to gather to its 
banm.T, the better and stronger classes of colonists, es- 
pecially those who wc-re inclined towards religions tolera- 
tion. wIuIl- till- strict I{pisco]5alians continticd to battle 
against this encroaching ilan.ger. The Colony was about 
equalh- di\ided on the matti.-r, and the religious (inestions 
formi.d a most inqiortant factor in all the political actions 
of tlK- Colony. 

Under the established system, the mim'sters formed a 
Select and sej^arate ])art of the go\ernnient, and the po- 
litical rights dejK-nded Largely on the conformity of the 
belief of the citizen. This latter, and most warjiing 
ttiuk'ncN-, was fou.ght against In- Mrs. Hinchinson and 



2o8 THl- HISTORY OF 



Reverend Wheelwright. The opposition agreed that if 
these views on rehgious freedom were allowed to spread, 
the gowrnnient of the Colony would lie threatene(l. lUit 
the cani]xii'_;n for religious liberty and toleratinn went (in, 
and fiiialh , when the anger (if the (ijiposition wrested the 
0(i\erniir>liip frdni \'ane and seated Winthro]!, the 
future of Anna Hntchinsdn and Wheelwright darkened, 
and resulted in their liariishnient in 1037. Mrs. Hutchin- 
S(in and her faniih- were imprisoned, and later they were 
exiled, and thus were driven from the midst of friends 
and l(i\-ed ones. Mrs. ffntchinson anil her innnerliate fol- 
lowers went south into Rhode Island, to li\e in the \icin- 
itx'of Roger Williams, while Wheelwright mo\-ed to the 
north to Ivxeter, New H,im])shire, where a jiiire democ- 
racy w.as founded ujion the nnixersal consent of those 
g(.)verned. Mrs. Hutchinson, fearing the anger of the 
persecutors, lied with her famil\- into the region ni New 
York State, where in I'^j, they were massacred by the 
Indians. Her lirother-in-law. Reverend Wheelwright, 
])ros])ered, and soon was permitted to come Iiack to 
old Phniouth Colony, where he preached until his death 
in I '145. 

Richard Crispe, who married the youngest daughter 
of Re\'erend Wheelwright, had a daughter, vSarah Crispe, 
who became the wife of Hon. John Lex'erett. 

SARAH CRISPE, WIFE OF HON. JOHX LEVF.RETT. 

On Ajiril 5, i7-;2, Sarah Crispe, daughter of Richard 
Crispe, was married to the Hon. John Levcrett, son of 




7 — ^^^^C'-i^-^Sr-'/Ssf^^^^^-V ' 

lloMl. OK l,i:\ I'.Kl 1 I , 



Til]'. CRISri': lAMII.Y. 213 

Sir John Le\'eretl, tlie Colonial Governor of Massaclui- 
si-ds. Ht-r luishand was a (lislint;iiish(.-(l lawyer, jiul.m.-, 
Si)(.'akcT of ihf Massaclnisc'Us I.L'^islattirt-, nicnil>fr of 
llif Ri>yal Societ\-, and rnsident of Harvard Colk-.m' 
fnmi I 711.S luitil lii-A death on Ma\- 3, 17^4. His father. 
Sir John, is e-^pecially famous in .-\nieriean history as 
Iiaxani; been the Colonial Governor whose skill and diiilo- 
niae\- c.iiried to a successful md the war with Kinic 
I'hilip. In 1076 he was Kni,L;lited hy Charles the Second 
for service rendered to the New hai^land Colonies, 
(Anu-rican Cvclopedia, volume X, jia^e 37.S. ) 

Sul)se(|uent to his death she married 1 Jnl\' 15, 1725) 
the Honorable j.'hn Clark. Mr. John Clark, a distiu- 
uuished tjentleman and liwvir, died in 17,3>!. and Sarah 
niariied as lur fourth hnshand Re\'erend Henjamin Cole- 
man. Hrvanl, in his Po]iular History of the United 
States, on pai^es 127-12.S, \-olume HI, sa\s of Re\'erend 
Coleman; "In 1721 the scourge of the colonv was small- 
jjox, I'our times it had been epidemic in lioston at dif- 
ferent jK-riods, and it appeared again in 1721. Xearlv 
6,000 persons — ne.arlv half of the pi']iulation — were at- 
tacked. f)f whom nearh- goo died. Inoculation was in- 
troduced at this time in .\merica by Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, 
and its efficacy was proved in the next serious visitation 
from this pestilence thirty years later, when out of the 
5,544 who took the disease in natural wa\-, 514 died: 
while of the 2,117, who were inoculated, onh- t,\ died," 

"Cotton Mather — who was somewhat of a lay 



214 THI' HISTORY OF 

practitioner — was warmly interested in this bold attempt 
to mitigate human snfTeriiig, and became in consequence 
so obnoxious that his house was assaulted and an attempt 
made on liis life. His father, Increase Mather, then a 
ver\' old man, published a tract in favor of the remedy 
in which he quoted the negro sla\'es as a\-erring that it 
had alwa\sbeen jiracticed with success in Africa, whence, 
perhajis, the Turks had obtained their knowled,s;e. 
Ai>ont two lunidred and fifty persons were inoculated by 
Dr. Boylston — seven only dying — who began with his 
own children and ser\'ants. The brave man stood almost 
alone in his own profession: but among the clerg>', 
though the o|)position was general and bitter, the Mathers 
were supported by some of the more prominent and emin- 
ent brethren — as the Reverends Benjamin Coleman, of 
Boston, Waller, of Roxlniry, a son-indaw of Increase 
Mather." 

Reverend Benjamin Coleman was an elotjuent speaker 
and was the leading clerg\nian of Boston. Sarah Crispe 
Coleman died April :;4, 1744. 

In the New England Historical and Genealogical 
Register, \-olume VI, page 44, it speaks of George 
Crispe and family as follows: " George Crispe married 
Hepli/.ibel Cole on May 24, 1677. The children born 
were: Mary, born December 9, 167S: Mercie, born Oc- 
tober IS, i68r. George Crispe died July 28, 1682. He 
was the founder of Eastham, Massachusetts — a promin- 
ent place in those days. 



THl'. CKISI'l': FAMILY. 215 



CKISI'K SOLDIKKS IN INDIAN WARS. 

Tlic earliest war ( if the Colonists came in the form 
(it a liloody stnigi^le with tile chief of the W'ampauoags, 
and is known in Colonial liistory as King- Philip's War. 
Massa>oit. the father of Kin;,' I'hili]!, was on \-ery 
friendly terms witli the white-, Imt at his death youn.i; 
Metaconiet, or King l'hili])as the Colonists called him, 
.i.;a\-e evidence of his hatred of the whites, and in several 
in-.Iances o]>enl\- xioLited his jdedf^es to keep peace, 
rinli]) ()l)ser\ed that the whites were ijrachially encroach- 
in.s; upon the Indian territorv. and tliat their huntin.i; 
.groinids would he taken from tliem: the forests were fall- 
ing,' hefori' the steel, and he recoijnized that the Inilian 
race would come to want, and be finall\' exterminated. 
Imhtied with this thouglit he aroused the entire Indian 
l)o]nilation thronghont the New luiglaud Colonies, and in 
i'>75 he bejiau his campaign of lilood. 

The war on the part of the Indians was one of am- 
bush and stn-jirise. The>- nexer once met the Colonists in 
the open field. They were secret as l)easts of prey: 
and trained marksmen, The>- were fleet of foot and 
thoronghls- conversant with the paths of the forest: 
])atient of fatigue, and mad with vengeance and destruc- 
tion, retreating in the swamp for their abode, and ever 
])repared to spring forth to massacre a straying Colonist, 
The Colonists selected from among their numbers the 
bra\-est citizens, and formed them into exploring parties, 
whosi.- dut\- it was to seek for these savages. The Crispe 



2i6 THIv HISTORY OF 



family was represented in these exploring- parties in the 
peasons of Richard Crispe, of Kaslhani, and Zachariah 
Crispe. Tiiese exploring parties, as the\' were called, 
had a most dangerous task. They were often wa\laid, 
and their paths not infrequently were strewn with the 
arms and limbs of Colonists who had fallen pre>- to the 
warriors of King Philip, The men as the>' went tf) the 
fields, the woodchoppers and the shepherd hoys, wi.re 
shot diDwn by these skulking foes, whose approach was 
in\-isible. The mothers and women at home feared the 
tomahawk, and hourh- anticipated the murder of their 
dear ones: and the Indians limig around these settler's 
cabins as wolves about a sheepfold. The dreadfulness of 
these days is scarcely to be imagined by the jieoplc of the 
present age. The most thrilling incidents are among the 
stories that might be mentioned in connection with the 
exploring parties. 

Zachariah Crispe is spoken of in connection with 
these parties in volume XXX\'II, page 1S2, of the New 
England Historical and Genealogical Register, Jonathan 
Crispe is mentioned on page 220 of the same \-olume. 

Richard Crispe, who also served in the bloody war, is 
written about in volume XXXIX of the New luigland 
Historical and Genealogical Register, pages 379 and 382; 
and in addition gi\-es a letter of considerable interest. 
He ser\'ed tuider Captain James Oliver, It reads: 

" Naraganset, 26th, nth m. 1675. 

"After a tedious march in a liitter cold night that 











WAiriM, I(1K IIIK (DNCiKKCA 1 ION. 




KK.Ain' I'oK nil- INDIAN WAKKIDRS. 



Till'-. CRISl'l'-. FAMILY. 



full()W(.-(l I)i,-c. 1 2th. \vf h()])f(l our pilot would have led 
u^ to I'oiiiliani !)>■ break of day; hut so it t-aiiie to pas.s 
we wrn- milled, and >o ini.ssed a .i;ood o]iportuiiity. Dec. 
i.Uh: Wf came to Mr. Sniith's, and lliat day look 35 I'ris- 
oners. Dec. 14th: ( )nr (itiieral went out with horse and 
foot. I with ni\- company was lefl l<i keep 'garrison. I 
Sent <nit '^o of ni\- men to ^cont abroad, who killed two 
Indians and liroui^ht in 4 prisoners, one of which was lie- 
headed. ( )nr aim\- came liome at nis^ht; killed 7 and 
liron^ht in u men more, \iiuni; and old. Dec. i^tli; 
Came-in-John, a r<iuije, with pretence of peace, and was 
dismissed with this errand, thai we mii^hl s]>eak with 
Sachem>. That eeenini;, he not heini; yone a i|Uarler uf 
an hour, hiscom])auy. that la\- hid behind a lull kille<l two 
Salem men within a mil'.- of our <inarters, and wounded a 
third lliat he is dead; and at a house three nnles off, 
where I had 10 nieli, the\ killed 2 of them. Inslautl\ , 
Cajitain Moselx , m\self and Capt:iiu I ".ardnt-r wen.' -^ent 
to fetch in Major Appleton's compau\', that kejU ', nnles 
and an half otT; and coming the\' la\- behinil a stune w:dl 
an<l tired on ns in sitjht of the i^arrisiin. We killed the 
ca])tain that killed one of the Salem men, and had his 
cap on That nii;ht the\- burned Jerr\- lirell's house, and 
killed 17. Dei-. lOth came that news. Dec 17th came 
news that Conm-cticnt forces were :it l'etac|iiamscot, and 
had killed 7 Indians and took i< ])!isoners. That da\ we 
sold Captain Davenport 77 Indians, youny; ;nid old, for 
So /.' in mone\-. Dec. i.Sth; We m.irc-hed lo retai|uani- 



THE HISTORY OF 



scot with all our forces, only a garrison k-ft; that niijht 
was vcr\' stornu-; we lay, one thousand, in the open field 
that loni^f nij^ht . In the niornint;, I)ec. njth, Lord's da\-, 
at 5 o'clock, we marched. Between 12 and i, we came 
tip with the enemy, and had a sore fight three hours. We 
lost, that arc now dead, about 68, and had 150 wi.unded, 
nian>' of which are recovered. That long, snowy cold 
night we liad about iS miles to our quarters, with about 
210 dead and wounded. We left S dead in the fort. We 
had but 12 dead when we came from the swamp, besides 
the S we left. Many died 1)\- the way, and as soon as 
the\' were brought in. so that Dec. 20th we buried in a 
grave ^•^j, and next da\' 7, next day 2, and more since 
here. Kight died at Rhode Island, i at Petaqnaniscot , 
2 lost in the woods and killed Dec. 20th, as we heard 
since, .some say 2 more died. IW tiie best intelligence we 
killed 300 fighting men, prisoners we took, sav, 350. and 
above ,^or> women and children. We burnt about 500 
houses, leftlnitg. burnt all their corn that was in baskets. 
One single merc>' that night not to be forgotten, v\7..: 
that when we drew off, with so man}' dead and wounded, 
they did not pursue us, which the \oung men would have 
done, but the Sachems would not consent; they had but 
10 poinids of powder left. Our Oeneral, with about 40, 
lost our wa\', and wandered till about 7 o'clock in the 
morning before we came to our qtiarters. We thought 
we were within 2 miles of the enemx' again, liut God 
kept tis; to Hun be the glory. We have killed now and 



Till': CRISl'K I'AMILY 



tlic-n 1 siiicu. and buriU 200 wigmanis: we kilk-d 9 last 
'rtRS<la\-. We fetch in tluir ccirn dailw and tluit undoes 
llieni. This is as nearly as I ean a true nlatiun. I read 
llu- narratixi.' to ni\- ofticers in in>' lenl, who all assent to 
till.- truth nf it. Mimhetjins and IVniudds ])r(i\'ed \-ery 
lalse: tni.'d into iIr- air, anil sent word 1)efore the>' came 
they wdidd do so. hut i;ot niueh plinider. ginis and ket- 
tles A L^reat part of what is written was attested by 
Joshus 'I\fl\-, who niarrii'd an Indian woman, a \\'am])a- 
woas- He shot :o times at us in tin.- swamp, was taken 
at Providence Jan'y 14. hroUi;ht to us tht- iTitli, executed 
the iSth. A sad wretch: he never heard a sermon hut 
once these 17 years. His father .i;oini; to recall him lost 
his head and lies luilniried." 

CKisi'i-: <;k.\nt i.v coi.oni.m. disim-ti-:. 

The following; reference to the Cris]ie .L;ranl will he of 
iiUerest: 

" The terrible menaces of the Indian wars and the 
hourly alarm which the\' caused did not make the English 
settlers tnimindful of their political possiliilities, nor 
hopeless refiardin.ii the future. While tlie Massachusetts 
Colony was weak in resources from the effects of the war. 
[Note: nurin.a: the war New I'.nj^land lost 600 men, a 
dozen towns were destroyed: 600 dwellin.e:s were l)urned; 
e\'ery twentieth family was homeless, and every twentieth 
man who had served as a soldier had perislied. The cost 
of the war equaled $400,000, a very large sum of money 
at that time], the peojile were \et enga.ged in the hos- 



224 Till' HISTORY OF 



tilities with tlie eastern tribes — the Coloii\- made terri- 
torial accession hy purchase, and at the same time boldly 
asserted its charter rights. For many years there had 
been a contro\-ers\- between the heirs of Sir h'ernando 
(jorgas, John Mason and John Crispe and the Massa- 
chusetts Colon\- coucerninu; a portion of the present ter- 
ritor\- of Maine and New Hampshire, which b\' acts of 
the inhabitants had been placed ( 1641 1 under the juris- 
diction of the antliorities at Boston. The judicial deci- 
sion ( 1677 ) was in fax'or of these heirs, and Massachu- 
setts immediateh- purchased their interests for the sum 
of S6,ooo. New Hanipsliire was detached three years 
later ( 16S01 and made a royal ])ro\ince — the first in New 
Eng'land; but Maine, which was incorporated with Mas- 
sachusetts in i6c)2, continued a part of Massachusetts 
until 1S20." ( I.ossinjj^'s Histor>' of the I'nited States, 
])ajj;e 1291. The disposition on the pari of the Colonies 
to sain land and attain clear titles did not ]ilease the Kini^ 
of England King Charles began to view the progress 
with env\', and he looked upon these C(donists with fear. 
Charles had long entertained the thought that he as King, 
"with divine rights," should be the real authority in 
the Colonial world of the Western Hemisph.ere. He 
took occasion to reject Rdward Randoljih, a custom officer 
at the port of lioston, and declared the Colonial charter 
void. He issued a 'quo warranto' in i6S;^ and procured 
a decision in his favor, but he died before he could carry 
his plan into effect . 




l\l il li- \l)l Nt I MAIL 

(I'hll.Hi.ll.lll.ll 




I. Nil (II 1111. KK\ Ml,r 1 ION. 
|.Siiin:iuU-i' ..I CiHiiuallis.i 



TH]' CRISl'E FAMILY. 229 

Charles' successor, James II., coiitiiuied the oppres- 
si\-e measures of liis hruther. Tlu- pc()])le petitioned and 
remonstrated, Init tlie>- were treated with contempt. Their 
liardships in coiKpieriiij^ a wilderness and enduring; tnituld 
])ri\-ati()ns, were of no a\-ail in the ears of the lii.uot, 
James 11. .\s a climax to llie Coloni.al <lrama, the Kin^^ 
appointed Sir Ivdmund .\ndros. former Royal (i()\-enior 
of New York, to proceed to Hoston and declare the Col- 
onial charters \-oid. and he to he the first C,o\ernor-(".en- 
eral of .dl Xew hait^land. 

(;()\-KK.\()K .VNPKdS M.-\KKTi:i) A CKISl'K. 

Sir Mdmnnd Andros. of Ciiierni-x-. was married to 
I'.li/.dielh Crisjx' — sister of (K-rtney Crispe. who founded 
the Crisjie Charit>' I^'arm. of which we wrote on page 81 
of this hook, h'.lizabeth's marria<;e is mentioned on page 
iV^of this hook. Sir I'Mnnuid was ajipointed the first 
( '.oerrnor-t leneral of the linglish Colonies, and he ar- 
ri\atl at Boston in December. i6,S6. He inniiediately de- 
manded the olil charterof Coimecticut, but it was refitsetl. 
He soon made bare the sword of oppression, and began 
to rule with a tyrant's rule, and he tried to carr\- into 
effect the edicts of the sovereign who apj)ointed him to 
the high place. 

Among the arbitrary acts which Andros attempted to 
enforce were: Suppression of freedom of speech and 
])re.ss: dictation in marriage contracts: and finally he 
threatened to establish the Episcopal church — the religion 
of haigland. Hut the Puritans would not endure liis 



THE HISTORY OF 



proclainatic ms, and licedwl littk- what In- said. This 
aiigjerc'd Androsto sucli an extent that il provuked a verv 
strained relation between the Colonists anil Ivifiiand. At 
thisjiiiint were sown the first seeds of the American Re\'- 
olution, and many historians clann that the American re- 
hellion l)i,;^an at the time Andros attempted to i.-stalilish 
tile J iislish I'^pisciipal Chnrch in all New IuiL;laiid. 

His experience in attemjitint; to !:;ain jiossession of 
the charter of Connecticut is of considerahle interest. 
In October, iTiyS, .\ndros went to Hartford, Connecticut, 
where the (Jeiieral Assembly was in ses.sion, and he hojied 
to secure the ch.uterof Connecticnt. The Colonists knew 
he was comiiii;, and so the\- prepared to save the pn cions 
instrtimenf, and at the same time they had arransed to 
!L;i\-e every ex'idence ])ossil)le of Io\alt\' to the Kiii.t; of 
England. The debates at the Assembl\' were purposely 
prolonged until night, when Giivernor Andros was to ar- 
ri\-e and ]iroclaim that the charter was annnlled, and 
that the Assembh- be dischaiged. Thee\-ening came, the 
candles were lighted and the chaiter was brought forward 
and laid on the table before ihe C.o\-ernor and the Coun- 
cil. Just as Andros stepiied forward to lake tl e charter, 
the candles were suddenly >. xiiiigtnshed, and the charter 
was seized by a Colonial, hv the name of Wadsworth, and 
he and friends bounded from the h.ill, and under cover of 
the ni.ght they hid the charter in the hollow of a large 
oak tree near b\ . When the candles were re ighted all 
the members of the Council were in perfect order, but 



TH1-; CRISri' I'AMILV. 231 



the charter ccnikl iiol V)e fcuiiul. Aiulros was highly 
incensed at Ix-ini; thus foileii, bnt he wisely restrained 
liis j^assion. and a>snnu-d connnand of the fVn'ern- 
nienl, and with jiis own liand wrote the word "Imnis" 
after the proceedin.t;s of tlu- Colonial Assenihlw The 
entire govermneiit of New luigland was adniiiiistered in 
his own name until 16S9, when he was dri\-en iroin Bos- 
ton, as his so\-ereign in Ivngl md had been deposed. 
The charter, which had lieiii hidden in the iild oak. was 
hronght forward and the Colonists again eiijoxi. cl a local 
and democratic form ot government. The oak in which 
the charter was drposiled was called the 'Char er Oak." 
The fainons oak stood nntil August ;i. i.Ssf'. when a 
severe storm prostrated it. and it was soon converted into 
hisioiic souvenirs. 

Andros was nnjirisoned in I'oston on April i'>, 1689. 
In July he was sent to Ivngland for trial, tml he was ac- 
qnitted, as might be exi)ected, anil shortly afttr was ap- 
pointed Governor of \"irginia, where he managed to 
conduct himself in a fashion eliciting the good will of 
these Colonists. The\- welcomed him lu-artilv, and he 
was a wiser and better man than he had Iieen when in 
New lingland. It may ha\-e been because he served new 
masters ( Mary and William) that Andros ren.embered 
that to hold a Governorship meant privileges and duties 
as well. Usurpation and injustice meant failure and 
ruin. He was less arrogant and less overbearing; and he 
made himself congenial in that the troubles of the Col- 



'32 Till' HISTORY OF 



oiiists became his troubles, and he labored industriously 
to rule with justice to all. 

KOCNDED VVIIJ.IAM AND MAKV COLI.KC.K. 

He came to Virginia with the cliartt-r for an institu- 
tion which he hoped to found, and with the Kinj^j's favor 
he received a charter for tlie first large college in the 
south. This act on the jiart of Andros induced the people 
to have great faith in his jaromise that he would rule 
"justly and kindly." 1?\' this achie\'enient he ingra- 
ciated himself, anil he was in nian\ ri-spects the most 
])rogressi\-e and inlelligent (roxernor that ruled the \'ir- 
ginia Colonx'. 

Among other impro\-i.-nients he established good roads 
through the forests and swamps; aided Thomas Neal in 
getting a patent from the King permitting postal service 
Connection between the Colonies: he collected and caused 
lobe preser\-ed all thedd records of X'irginia. and by 
this act alone has bec|ueathed to the Americans of to-day 
many hist<irical docmnents which otherwise would ha\'e 
been lost or destroyed, as the>' were in other Colonies: lie 
introduced the cultivation of cotton; and did evervthing 
in his power to establish newspapers and .schools. 

He was so different to ])receeding Cioxernors that the 
Colonists lo\-ed .Sir lulmund. The iiuestion often asked 
was: " Is .Sir I'"dmund Andros 'a new man,' or are the 
X'irginians less particular than the New Englanders?" 
He did much for education, and thus pleased the \'irgiu- 
ians. To Andros, Virginia can well be grateful for ha\-- 







IMF. lorXDINC. Ill- OIK XAIIDN. 
I Inauguration u( \\ashiiii;lim i 



Tin: CKISPK I'AMILV. 237 



iiiij the name of ■■Mdllier of Presi<le!its," for to no other 
man does slie owe so much for i-nconra^inf,^ iustiliitionsof 
learning- 

C.overnor Ikrklew wlio ruled \'ir.<j;inia some years 
liefore. "thankeil ("loil tliat there was neither a free school 
orprintini;- (jfi'icein the Coloin:" while Amlros was thank- 
ful for (|uile the ojiiiosite. He took a great interest in 
William and Mar\- Colle.t;e. Tlie establishment of a col- 
lege was the fulfdlnieni of those fears which Herklcy 
lio])ed would not he accomplished for one hnndreil venrs. 
It was (.A'idence of increasing; iiitelhf^ence. as \\ell as 
])ri)mise of futuri' culture and ])ros]ierit\', and these were 
elements which ])re\-i( lus Ciovernors of \'irL;inia strongly 
opposed and discouraged. 

('((A'crnor Andros was certain to claim authority over 
the new ccillege, and its jiiesident. Mr. I'.lair, who was 
appointed its president !)>■ the Uishop of London, re- 
sisted an\' interference in the curriculum of the college. 
This lead to a controversy-, and Crovenior Andros tried to 
hrcak the firmness of Blair In- dismi.ssing the latter from 
the Coiuicil of \'irginia. The political issue thus created 
necessitated an apjieal to I-higland. Andros w-as defeated 
in the decision, and recalled, and in his stead Nicholson w-as 
transferred from Mar>-land to (lox-ernor of \'irginia. 

Andros returned to England and in 1704 was made 
Oovernor of his native home, Guernsey (the Channel 
Islands of luigland). In 1691 Sir Kdmund published in 
book form his experiences and career in New- I'.ngland, and 



238 THE HISTORY OF 



these writings were published in London in 1773. 

In his will, dated July 19, 1712 he says in part: "I, 
Sir Edmund Andres, Knight, of Guernsey, now residing 
in the parish of St. Anne's Westminster. To Dame Eliza- 
beth Crispe my wife certain annuties etc; I gi\'e annually 
20o^ due me upon bond irmn Thonu^s Cooper near Maid- 
stone PCugland taken in the name of my late sister-in-law 
Mrs. Hannah Crispe." P. C. C. 44 Aston. 

And Anna Gertney Crispe' s will adds these facts: 

"I, the fourth & youngest daughter and Coheir of 
Thomas Cri.spe, late of Quex, in the parish of liirchington 
in the Isle of Thonette, in the Count\-of Kent, ttc. etc . to 
Sir Ivlinund Andros, my brother-in-law and his Lady, 
twenty pounds for mourning." 

Further references on Sir luhnund Andros and his 
wife, lilizabetli Crispe, volume XLII, page 179, New 
England Historical and Genealogical Register; Bryant's 
History of the Ihiited States, volume III, page 6fi. 

DKLIVERANCH CRISPE, INOl.^N CAPTIVE. 

Early in 1690, when the French incited the Indians 
into a renewal of hostilities, the Colonists suffered a most 
torturous career. Severe as the Indians had been under 
the fearless leadership of King Philip, they were decided- 
ly more savage and barbaric after the chief's death. Al- 
though the war of King Philip had ended in utter defeat 
some fifteen years previous, this loss seemed to act as a 
theme of inspiration. With the French at Canada to in- 
still into these Indians new hopes, and with these white 



THK CRISP]': FAMILY. 239 

and civilized allies as their backing^, they invited war and 
fou.ijlit to a liitter end. This war, known in history as 
King William's War — named after the King in ICngland 
who was fii^duiiiK the French of Continental luirope — was 
indeed a most distrnctive and cniel war. 

We need onl\- refer to the ma.ssacres at Schenectady 
and Groton, and the student familiar with Colonial history 
is reminded of the most horrifing and soul-stirring epoch 
in the history of the Colonies. 

The Crispe familx-came in for their share of sufferings 
and sadnesses, for we learn that I'enjanun Crispe and fam- 
ily were living at the village of Groton, when this awful 
massacre took place. The town was destroyed by tire, 
and the inhabitants massacred, tortured and burned. "The 
snow was y>\uk with blood and dead bodies robed in ice." 
Ik-njamin Crispe's wife was driven into the wilderness to 
die, and iheir little daughter, Deliverance Crispe, was taken 
as an Indian capti\'e, and brought uji to li\-e the life of an 
Indian girl. She was taken to Montreal, where the French 
and Indians divided their spoils and laid their plans of fu- 
ture campaigns. I)eli\'erance was educated in the ways 
and maiuier fif the Inilian tribe, and accordingly adopted 
tlK- Roman Catholic f.iith. In 1696 she was baptized a 
Roman Catholic at Montreal, and was placed in charge of 
the congregation of Notre Dame, An account of the trials 
of Deliverance Crispe can be found on page 159, volume 
XXVIII, New England Historical and Genealogical Reg- 
ister, 



?40 THK HISTORY OF 



William S. Ajiiicllun in ;in article cntilk-d "Iviij^lish 
Captives ill Canada" ( \-cihiiiR' XX\'1 1 1, jiat^e 130,) New 
I'aigland Historical and ( iciiealdj^ical Rej^ister says: "A 
Genealooical 1 )ictii)iiar\- of iMifilisli-Caiindian families has 
recenth' been issued. Perhaps the >]iecial interest of the 
\olnme t'l us is the list of 'Anglais' ( lui^lish ) capti\-es 
taken in the war of the sc \-eiiteenth ceiUur\' between 
Xew I'"rance and New I'lnj^laiul. And here we find a 
list of capti\'es, ninstly children, some utterly nnkiiowii 
to Sah'age ami others, known onlv as born. 'rhe>- weie 
all baptized in the Roman Catholic Church and jxissed 
their li\es in Canada." r)eliveraiice Cris]>e was aiiion^ 
these captives. 

W'e rea<l in I'>r\'ant's History of the I'liited States 
(\-olume II, jia^c 47S ) that a certain John Crispe was 
anions- those ^vho founded Hniiintjton, Deleware, and that 
from his letters and diar\- Ihy.uit was able to gix-e the ori- 
gin of this jirosperous town. The ])art which is quoted 
reads: "The Kent arrived at Newcastle on the sixteenth 
of August, 167,*^. The new town was named after Bur- 
liu,2;ton, Yorkshire, luiwland, from wdience main' of the 
emigrants came. 'Here is a town.' wrote Mr. Crispe to a 
friend in iMigland, 'laid out for twenty proprieties, and a 
straight line drawn from the ri\-er side up the land which 
is to be the main street, and a market place al>ont the 
middle. The Yorkshire ten projirietors are to build 
on one side, and the Loudon ten on the other side: and 
thev ha\-e ordered one street to be made aloni,'- the ri\'er 




CIIAKII K n.AK 




INDIAN r.W I |\ K 



Till'; CklSIM', I'AMll.V. -45 

^idv, \vln\-li is not divuh/d with tla- rest, Imt in ^niall lots 
li\- itself, and an\- onv tliat liasi aii\- jiart in a ])io|)iict_\' is 
to lia\-c- a sliari.- in it, 'PIk- town lots I'oi rx-i-i >■ iiropriuty 
will 1)1.- aliont ten i<v (.-U ven acres.' " i Letters in I'rond's 
Historv of l'einisyl\-ania '. l')ryant says: ■ ''riie new \il- 
lat;v was ])i(isperons from the lie^innin.i;. and shiploacl 
after shipload of Colonists arrived, mUd the ])ro])riet<]rs 
saw their nmtiial ])lantalion inci'easin^ more laiiidK- in 
two or three \ears than ollur Colone-. had done in ten; 
and this almost enlirel\- through the exertion uf h'liends 
iiloiie." 

Further paiticnlars of the captieitN- ■ 'f lillU' Miss 
I)eli\-eranee Crispe I.onj^lee will In- foinid in llle .ip])endiN 
of the History of ilie Crisp l"aiinl\-. 

The Cris])e jieojile at theonlhreak of the Ke\-iilntion- 
nr.\- W'arnatnrallv sided with the Colonists; their jireeious 
trainin.t;-, as well as their reli>;ions lieliefs, and their po- 
litical ttiidencv, natin-all> lea<l lliem into the Colonial 
army. 

The Cris])e fanuly. howe\-er, was considerably re- 
duced in niimhers dnrinj; the Indian and I'reiicli wars, 
and nearh the entire famil\- after the Revoliitionar\' War 
was redticed to a few families. 

Thefamih' name does not a^ain apjicar in the history 
of the United Stales until the early ])art of 1800, when 
the family of ex-Speaker Crisp, of the United Stales 
Honse of Representatives, appears as a branch of the 
old Ivno'lish stock in the Southern States. 



24f> TH}', HISTORY OF 



IIONOKAHI.K CHAKLKS I'KEDKKICK CKISI', 
STATKSMAN. 

In IIcrriii.>;sha\v's I^iicvclnjiedia i>f Aint.-rican Hiog- 
rapliy \\x- fiiul on pagu 263 Uil- following: 

"Chark'S I'^rt-derick Cris]i, soldit-r, la\v\cr, jurist, 
Ciingressnian, was horn Jan. 29, 1.S45, in I{ngian<l. He 
was a Licutuiianl in tin- Confederate arni\' fr(jni 1.S61 to 
18(14, wlieii he was taken ]irisoner. In 1872 he was ap- 
pointed Siilicitor-C.eneral of the Southwestern Circnn't; 
and in 1S7;, was rea])pi)inled for a term of fonr years. In 
the latter year he nunx'd to Aniericns, (la.; in 1877 was 
appointed Judge of the Superior Court; and in i87Swas 
elected to the same office: and in 1880 was re-elected for 
a term of fotu" vears. He resigned in 1882, and was 
elected Rtpresentali\-e from ("icorgia to the forty-eighth 
Congress; and received the re-electicm to the forty-ninth, 
fiftieth, fifty-fir.st, fifty-second, fifty-third and fifty-fourth 
as a democrat, and ser\-ed as a Speaker 1 if the House in 
the fifty-second and fift>--tliird Congresses " 

Additional notes on his life can be found in the Na- 
tional Cyclopedia of American Biography, volume I, page 
3S5, as follows: 

"Charles Frederick Crisp, lawyer and congressman, 
was born in Sheffield, England, Jan. 29, 1845, while his 
parents, actors by profession, were engaged in an exten- 
sive tour. The familx- returning to the United States in 
the same year, settled in Georgia, where the son was ed- 
ticated in the common schools of Savannah and Macon. 



THK CRISI'K FAMILY. 247 



On the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in company 
K. loth \'ir.L;inia infantry, ami, risintc to a lieutenancy, 
was in acti\'e service until taken prisoner of war in May, 
iS(i4. After a year's confiueiueiu in I'orl Delaware, he 
rejoined his parents at Ivlla\-ille, C,.\.. and, after coin- 
pletinj; law studies at Aniericns, was adniitteil to the bar 
in iSfiTi, lie connnenced practice in Ivllaville, where lie 
ra])idly rose to prominence, ln-int;, in 1S73, appointed so- 
licitor-j^i'neral of the sontli-western judicial circuit, and 
in i>!7,' re-a])])niiued for a term of four >ear^: In June, 
1S77. he was appointed judjie of the superior court <if 
this circuit, beinjj re-elected by the general assendil\' in 
1M7S and i.S,So. I'pou his nomination to the I'. S, lunise 
of re])rcsentati\'es he resifj;ned froni the bench, and was 
elected to the forl\-ei<;hth conj^ress bv a large po])ular 
vote. Althontih from the bej^inninii; of his career in the 
liouse he was known as a hard-workin;;-, attentive and 
alert member, he did not rise to the leading position 
which caused his election as sjieaker until the begiiniing 
of liis fifth term of service. At the time his election vva.s 
a most conspicuotis tribute to his abilit\- and popularit\-, 
sine- aniung the c'])]3osing candidates for the chair were 
Roger Q Mills and others whose ser\-ices had been much 
more extended. He was re-elected speaker in the lifly- 
third congress, and when the republicans again acquired 
a majority in the fifty-fourth he was the recognized leader 
of the minority. Throughout his congressional career he 
was a iirononuced advocate of a low tariff and the free 



24« Till'; HISTOKV ()I< 

C(iiiia,i;c of silver. At the cl. .st- of tlie ("ifly-ldiirth con- 
t;re>s Mr. Cri>]ie .iiuininicid liini^ell :i c.iiulidnle for tin.' 
sciuile, anil in llie nicantnne Inonylit liimNolf |iroininentl\' 
liefiiu- the pcoplt.- by Ills nienioi ,il >1l- ileliates with Sec, 
Hoke Smith u])on the llnaiiia'al (|iustioiis of the ilaw 
I'poii his letnni home in llueaih' sinnmer of i.Sijfi, he 
took a \ii;oroii> pari in the slate i;nhernatoiial eampait;ii, 
iiiakiiii; ahle speeches in several loealilies. In the primar- 
ies, in Jnl\ . 1>\ a praeliealle nnaiiiinons vole, he was 
made the .lemoeratiecaiulidate I'or the I'. S. senate, and 
nnd(ail)tedl\' woiilil ha\-e been elected, lie ilicd at his 
home ill .Atlanta, Ca., Oct. 2,v iSg<'." 

\\"e add a fe\v- slip] ileiiieiiial staleineiUs in ahriil^xd 
form from the Statesmen and roliticians of .\merica, by 
Seidle: 

"Charles I'". Crisp, the vSpeaker of the national 
House (.f Ke]iresentatl\es, is a man of [)roiioniiced and 
substantial abilifv, ;iin]il\' ei|nii;ped b\' education, train- 
in.t;, and loiiK :^iid distinjJiiislKd ]iiiblic ser\-ice, for the 
eminent position he holds. Thoiif^h born on foreij^n soil, 
he is of American parentage, which entitles hint to all 
the rif;;hts of a nati\-ed)orn citi/en. His jjareiits were 
\'isiting ill Sheffield, Eiiglaiiil, when he was born, Jan. 29, 
1S45. They returned with him to their home in (leorgia 
at the earliest possible moment, and before the cliild was 
otit of arms. 

"He was chosen Speaker of the House in the fifty- 
.second Consjrc.ss, and re-elected b\' nnaniinous Demo- 




JKtKKKSoN DAVIS. 



T]]K CKISIM'. I'AMII.V. 251 



cratic vote to llie same position in the fifty-third Con- 
j;ress. OwinLj to the vacancv caiiseil h\' tlie deatli of 
Senator Col<|uitt in tli.- sprin.i; of iS()4. the (■io\ernor of 
the State, without solicitation, Ienik-ri.'cl him an ayipoinl- 
ment to the \aeani oflice, which he ileehned, though with 
a]>]>arent rehietance, leaiint; that \>y withdrawnij; from 
the S]Hakershi]) at that time hi.- would eudaui^er the har- 
nion\- of his ])art\- assoeiat(.'s in the Iloust'. Speaker 
Crisp is a man of fine physiipu', thonj^di not roliusi; of 
diKuitied bearini,'- without ajipearint; austere; of pleasant 
and a^^ri-ealile nnuuurs. an ahle speaker with a fund of 
information todrawujion: of scholarl\' habits and judi- 
cial lem])trament — in fine, is an ideal jiresidiui; onici.-r. 
llei-; (jcoassionallx irritated b\- the ])ersistent i fforts of 
his Rt-]nil)Iican predeet-sor> to annoy him. Imt as a whole 
he has won tlie respect and confidence of all jiarties in 
the House 1)\ his tuiiform fairness, candor and im]iar- 
tialilw Outside the chair he is a ])ionouneed I>emocrat 
of the Southern -.ehool. and not altoj^ether in s\nipalh\' 
with some features of administrative police. And here. 
toM. his judicial trainini;- is of use to him, restraining- him 
from an\ unseemingK exhibition of his disagreements, 
Such a man is destined to .threat distinction in the coun- 
tr\-'s annals. He will, without ninch doubt, pa.ss from 
the Speakership into the Senate, and ultimateh' become 
recognized as a great statesmatr" 

In an editorial of the Illu>;ratevl American, volume 
IX, I 1S92 > on page 64. it .speaks of the candidac\- of Mr. 



254 THI' HISTORY OF 



Charles F. Crisj) for the Si>eaker^liip iii the fulUiwinf;- 
terms: 

" Cliarles 1". Crisp, mie of the nio^t ])roniineiU of 
tile younger generation of Southern Congressmen, is a 
formidable ri\-al to Mr. Mills for the Speakershi]i. He- 
came of actors who for twenty \ears prior to the war 
formed a hand of strolling ])la\ers in the South. He is 
a \-ery shrewd ]iolitician, and is considered one of the 
most sagacious and hest-tempered leaders of the Democ- 
racy. Ap])arentl\' without ambition to be known as an 
orator, there are few men ui Congress who utter more 
trul>' elo(inent sentences than he. He went to Congre'-s 
flist in iN.S^, and has been there e\-er since. Pre\-ions lo 
that he was in the Confuleiate arniw After the war he 
turned his attention to law, liecame Solicitor-( leneral of 
a district in ("leoryia, then rose to the bench of the Sti- 
peri()i^ Cotut, and landed in the As>embly. He has been 
described as 'the bull dog" on the nemocratic side of the 
House, At the s:ime time he is rtcognixed as one of the 
most affable and agreeable men who ever sat in Congress. 
ThrouglioiU the storm\- .scenes which took jilace in the 
House over the contested election cases in 1S90, Mr. 
Cri.sp, thotigh he fought desperately for his cause, ne\-er 
abandoned his innate courtesy, however hard he was hit. 
His manly beha\'ior elicited the admiration of foe as well 
as friend. His pri\ate character is unblemished, and his 
public record is an example for ftiture politicians." 

The Illtistrated American on page 612, \-ohune XX, 



THl'; CRISPE FAMILY. 255 



coiniiieiits ediloriuly on his deatli as follows: 

"TlK-Sjx-nkcT of the fifty -sl-coiii1 and fift\-tliinl Coii- 
f^MTss, Charles I-'redfiick Cris]i, who died reccnth- at Al- 
laiila, (ic()is;ia, would ha\-e ln.i-ii a S(.-naloi from his nati\-e 
Stale had he li\-ed. Il was Speaker Crisji who laid the 
fouiidaiion of Mr. ]?r\. ill's career, for throui.;!) the iiifln- 
eiice of Mr. vSjiriutjer, chairman of the W'avs .and Mt-aiis 
Committee, the member from Xehraska was i;i\en a ]iosi- 
tioii in that body, and llms arri\-ed Mr, lirxan's ojijior- 
ttniil\-. Mr. Crisp came of :ni h'.nt;lish familw He was 
born at Sheffield, lui.yl.md. Inning been broui;ht to this 
counlrv when an infant, his jiarents settlini,' ,at Sa\-aniiah, 
r.eor,L;i;i. His father was one of the famous ]ila\ers of 
his time. The boy's etlncation was intei rii]ited l)y the 
outbreak of the war, and in his se\-eiiteL-nth \ i.'ar he en- 
Jisted. Tromoted a Lieutenant in i.sr.4. he was captured 
and hel<l until after the surrender of Lee. Subsei|ueiitl>- 
he studied law, becoinini; Solicitor C.ener.il and Judtje of 
the Supefior Court. He was elected b\- the'State Lcl;- 
islature twice to the same office 

" In i.S.s;. Mr. Cri<p was chosen as Re])resentati\-e 
in Coni,;ress, liis abilitie-^ tliere at once receivins recogni- 
tion. He was imintdiateh' ]ilaced on important commit- 
tees, and his maiden speech attracted attention. He 
came to the front as one of the recognized leaders among 
Democrats in the turbulent fifte-fitst Congre.ss, Here he 
made a ti.ild fight fur silver. In ^Syshe had become one 
of the free sih-er leaders of the countr\-, and he an- 



25fi THK HISTORY OF 



imunccd his caiulidacN- for the Seiialt . The clioicf of a 
Senatcir was put to the pet>])le in tlie ])riniar\' elections in 
the s]irin^ and Mr. Crisp was o\ei\\duhnini;l\ cliosen, 
so tile inend)ers of the Legislature were instruct e<l to \'ole 
foi- him. He was reailv in s])eech, capalile as a debater, 
and thorou>;hl\- familiar with ]iarliameutary rules. He 
will be regretted by a lar^e uuniber of friends, including- 
many j)oliticall>' o])posed {< i him, for he exacted an amount 
of respect from his Ripnblican antagonists not exlinded 
to an\- other Democrat for tlie last few years." 

The Chica^^o Times-Herald of (October 24, iSyf''. says 
of his death: 

'Atlanta, Oa., Oi-tober c,-;, ^ - Charles Fred< rick 
Crisp, exSi>eaker of the House of Kepresenta'i\-es, dieil 
here to-da>'. He had been ill for a lou^^ time and was 
forced by achace of his [ilu'sicians to f;i\'e over a debate 
last sjirint; which had been arram;ed between him and 
Hoke Smith on the currency (|uestion. A complicatii m 
of diseases agpjawated by a weakness of the heart caused 
his demise. Mr. Cris]) had been in intense pain all day. 
K\-er\- few minutes he would suffer intensly, but no im- 
mediate danger was feared. His wife, together with a 
sanitarian nurse, Miss Sharp, was watching at his bedside. 
At about 1:45 o'clock Mr. Crisp was seized with another 
paroxism of pain. The watchers sent down stairs for Dr. 
Holmes, Mr. Crisp's two daughters, Mrs. Fred Daven- 
port and Miss Bertha Crisp, and his two sons, Charles 
T. Crisp. Jr., and Fred Crisp, wlio were at the Ballard 




SI- Al. i i| (1 iM 1 |)|:K.\C\. 




CONFIDI K\ll (.1 \KK.\I, R. K. I.KK 
(I luKr whoiii C. 1- . Ctis|iu mtm-iLi 



THI' CKISI'I'. I'AMILV. 261 



liouse on Peach street, were iinickh siininiDned. When 
lhe\- entered the room tile Judge was still c()n>eious. He 
uave them the look i)f reco<jnition, hreathed a few times 
and died. He enuld not -^jieak. 

" l-\-w nun in this State wen- more i^eneralh' ln.-- 
l()\ed than Mr. Crisp. His hoNhnod was spent in Sa- 
\-annah and Macon, and it was in ihe eonnnoii schools of 
these cities that he was educated. He was not a natixe 
(if the I'nited States. He was horn in Sheffield, I'.ni;- 
land, in 1S45. His father and mother were actors. In- 
deed, his eiuire faiinl\' were Thespians, and have been 
noted for st.a.ije talent. The one exception , and thai is the 
late ex S]K-aker, who rose toelilineiice llrst in the law and 
then as a statesman. .Mr. Cris]) would certainh lia\e 
heell elected I'liited States Senator IkkI he lived. When 
he w.is elected Speaker of tile House, l;is name was men- 
tioned as a Presidential possibility, and this brou.t;lU out 
the f.ict of his haxinjj been born aliroad. 

■ When the war came, Mr, Ciis]i, then a healtln-, 
robust lad of sixteen, enlisted m the Confederate army 
at the \erv outbreak. He finally became a Lieutenant 
in the '['eiitli \'ir;..;inia infantrw and ser\ ed with his regi- 
ment nntil Mav. iS()4. In tlt.it month he was taken 
])ris<)ner and carried to l"ort Delaware, where he was re- 
tained until the close of the war. In June iShs, he was 
released. As soon as he left jMisoii youn.g Crisp made his 
wa\' to the home of his ii.ueiits at hllaville, C.eor.>;ia, and 
at once beiran the studv of law. In the vear following 



262 THl- HISTORY OF 



he was admitted to the Ijar. and njiened an office in his 
own town. The yonn;; law>er made liis wa\- with threat 
rapidity, antl soon rose to the toji of hiy profession, llis 
amiabihties and complete self-control, his alert mind and 
judicial cast of thought, all condjined to liriiif; him 
cjuicklx' to the notice of older members of his profession 
throughout the State, and to win for him hosts of friends 
among all classes of the ])eo]>le. In 1.S72 Mr. Crisp took 
llis first step in politics. He was ai)]iointed Solicitor- 
General of the Southwestern Judicial District, and was 
re-appointed in 1873 for a four \'ears' term. The .same 
year he went to Americus to li\-e, and in iSj.s he was ap- 
pointed Judge of the vSuperior Coiirt. In the same >ear 
he was chosen li\' the Legislature for the s:une office, and 
in 1S80 he was re-elected for a term of four years. In 
1882 he resigned to accept the Democratic nomination for 
Congress from the Third District of (leorgia. It was 
then that he came to the attention of the American peo- 
ple. Tl;e \'ery same elements tluu went to make up his 
sticcess as a lawyer and a nuanber of the judiciary car- 
ried him forward in politics. In 1883 he presided over 
the Democratic State Con\-ention in deorgia, when the 
candidate for Governor was put in nomination. When 
his first tenu in Congress expired, he was nominated a 
second time, then the third; a fourth and a fifth, serving 
his part\' faitlifull>- in every Congress from the fort\-- 
eighth to the fifty-first inclusive. 

"In 1890 he was elected to the fift\'-second Congress, 



Tin-; CklSTH I'AMII.V. 263 



niul it was of tliat C(>iio;ress tliat he was chosen Speaker. 
IK- was ie-(--lecte(l ti> thr fiftx-third Cc]iit;ri.-ss. and re- 
sunieil the chair in that assenilil\-. His district aj^aiii re- 
turned him to the fift\-t"c)tn'th Conrjress. For a long time 
Jiidye Cris]) (lf\-oted himself exclusively to his diUies as 
a statesman. He foinul that he could not attend to lioth 
his prixMte Imsiness and his Conj^ressional work at the 
same time and ]ia\- snfl'icient attention to Ijotli, and so he 
abandoned his private affairs, and gax-e himself up wholh' 
to statecraft. His first vote in Conijress was for Carlisle 
for S])eakvr. lint, although he ^■ote(l a^;ainst Randall, 
that statesman recognized the (ieorgian's ahiliiN' and 
sought him out. The two became warm friemls, but 
Crisp deeide<I by his \-i ice his position on the tariff ques- 
tion. In the forlN-ninth Congress Mr. Ciis]) was as- 
signed to the Committee of Pacific Roads. In the spring 
of 1SS6 1r- went on ncord on the sil\-er (juestion . In 
April of that >ear he sjioke for tilt.' unlimited coinage of 
gold and silver, and declared himself in favor of a com- 
plete restoration of sih-er to the place it occupied before 
its deinoneti/ation in 1S73. Dttring tlic next Congress 
he voted against the bill allowing the national banks to 
increase their circulation; against the organization of 
Oklahoma: against the admission of Montana, Washing- 
ton and North and South Dakota, He voted against the 
pensioning of Mrs. Sheridan; against the refunding to 
the States the direct tax of iS6r, and in favor of the re- 
peal of the law taxing oleomargarine. ICarly in life Mr. 



264 TUF. HISTORY OF 



Crisp married Miss Clara Burton, in lioiior of whose 
sister Klla the town of lUhuillc was named. Mr. Crisp 
leaves a widow and fom children. 

"Governiir Atkinson heard the news nf Mr. Crisp's 
death at the execnti\'e office, and innnediatel>' ordered 
the Oeorxia flaij lowered to half-mast. He said: 'Mr. 
Crisp's death is particularly a calaniit\' jnst at this time. 
He had attained a ])osition where he was not n\\\y one of 
the most \alnahle men in our State, hnt was a natimud 
character of which Americans were ]>rotid. I regard him 
as the most conspicuous m.in now before the nation nf 
all Southern men. His ixisitinn as Si)eaker of the House 
had hrrjui^dit him mure ])r(iminentl\ before the coinitrv 
than any nther Southern man, and the magnificent aliilit>' 
which he dis]j]:i\ed in sustainiiiL; liimself as a leader there 
made much imjiress upon the whole ci inntr\--to such an 
extent th.it he was re.<;arded e\erywhere as one of the 
fon-nidst men (if .\merica. Persnindl\- he was one of the 
nii'st l(i\alile <if men, and outside of the Iwss to the pnli- 
lic, his death will l)e a jiersim.d loss to thousands of his 
fellow c(iuntr\inen, < )n the day of his Imrialallof the 
offices of the Capitol will he closed.' 

" Ivx-Secretar\- Hnke Smith said: I was thrown in 
contact with Judge Crispin Washingtun. and I am dee])l\' 
distressed at his sudden ileatli. His (]uickness, calmness 
and soinid judgment made him the natural leader of the 
Democratic House of Representatives. His kind and 
gentle teniper;nnent ga\e Inm the lo\ e (if all who knew 



.4}"^ 







HON. c". !■'. CKISl' 







^ICJ^Al L Khh UN MR. CRlbl'S I'AIM KS 



THK CKISFE FAMILY. 269 

him. Altliou.nh lie had filled the highest position given 
til a (".eorgiati in the national ccnuicils since the days of 
III 'Well Colli), he especialh desired a seat in the Senate, 
and his refnsal to accept the ajijiointnient tendered him 
liy (lovernor Xorlhern was the cleare^t jiroof of his un- 
selfish patriotism. He had just fairl\- won before the 
people of Cieorgia a seat in the Sen.ile. and in thai hod\- 
he woulii ha\e a<lded to his great naticma! reputation, 
and 1 regret sincerely that he has not been spared td fill 
it.' 

■'Peoria. 111., (Xnolier 2;,. — William J, Bryan was 
shown the tlispatcli anncnnicing the death nf Charles F. 
Crisp when he lioarded the train at Siiringfield this aft- 
(riioon, and was ileeplv grie\ed at the death of Mr. 
Cusp, and s.uil: ' While Mr. Cris]) was feelile in healtli 
I had not thoughl of his hfe being in danger. His death 
will be a ,gre.it loss to the Democrats of the nation, lie- 
cause he was one of the strongest men during m\- four 
^■ears liefore the ])ublic. and I feel his death is a person, d 
loss tome.' Mr. Hr\-aii immediately sent a dispatch of 
condolence to Mrs. Crisji. sempathizing with her dis- 
tress." 

IKIN-OK.MlI.r: CH.-MU.KS H. CKISP. 

.A brief descripti<in of Charles R. Crisp, son of Hon- 
orable Charles Frederick Crisp, is found in Herringshaw's 
Ivncvclopedia of American Biography, page 264: 

■Charles R. Crisp — I,aw\ er. legislator, congressman; 
was born Oct., 19. 1S70, in Ellaville, Ga. He was elected 



THK HLSTORY OF 



to the fiftli-fourth coiiuix-s^, witlicmt ii|)]ii).sition. In fill the 
vacanc>- caused by the death ot his father, liuii. Charles 
F. Crisp. He has attained success as a lawyer iti Amer- 
icus, Ga., where he is a niemher of the law firm of 
Hooper & Crisp. While in coni,'ress lie took an acti\-e 
part in debates on various measures which affected the 
welfare of his state; and as a risinji lawyer has already 
attained eminence at the bar of the s. .ulh." 



THK CRISPI' FAMILY. 



niK KIMSCdl'AI.IAX CKISI'l-.S. 



\Vf k-ariK-d when iLMdin.i; Fait I of this honk, that of 
the- Stilton \'allancL- lirancb of llie Cri>pf faniil\-, that a 
i-crtaiii John Crispc- had a faniilv of thirtirn (.hildicii : 
and \Vf noted that thi- oUU-st son, named Wilhani, had 
ei>;lit children, nearly all of whom emi,t;rated [>< America. 
This William, we remend)er, ' pa,<;e 14,; of this hook, 
I'art I I, was m.irried to Mis.s Crace I{li/alieth ("loodwxii. 
their children liein.L; John i.\i, Charles 1 Hi. James iCi. 
I'riseillia • D ', l^dward 1 hi i, William > h' 1 . Thomas 1 C, ,1, 
Sar.ih ill 

Since most of these children came to .\meric,i, we 
will describe them in this ])art of the hook. We will 
stnd\ the cari-ersof these eijiht childieii. complelin.u each 
child witli .all its offspring as niie famil\ . See ]iai;e 144 
of this hook. 

JOHN CKISfK > .\K 

John Cii-^iie I .\ 1. eldot child <jf William Crispe and 
C.rai'e Ivli/aheth ('.oodw\ii. was horn in 1S05. He was 
married to Miss hdi/ahelh Coxille. and to them were 
horn ti\e children, Charles lai, James ihi, luhvard (c), 
William id^ and Priscillia le'. John emii;rated to the 
Tnited States where he died June t\ iS;,4. 

Ch.irles '.ai; horn iSoC); died in Hnsland. 

James dii; borti l.SoS: <lied in lvn.L,d.nid. 

Ivlward ic: horn i.Sov: died in Ivn.nl.and. 



THK HISTORY OF 



William Uli; burn r.Sii; dit-il in luiijhnul. 
Priscillia i(ji; horn i8i,v iHairit.-il In l>r. Jnlin r>anl)\- 
Bdwlfs, in Anu'rica, April \C<, is-^S; to tlic-ni werL- horn 
six children — Charles ii), Harr\- i ji, John i.v. J{li/aheth 
(41, Frank (S) and Thomas 'h). 

Priseilla married a Mr. liow'.es. I am indehted 
to Mr. Harr\- Howies, of Harrison, Ohio, for the major 
portion of the description of the liowles family. He 
catrerly assisted in .tjettinj,^ the data in connection with 
this hrancli of the Crispe relative-., and I chcL-rfnlly ac- 
cord him thi^ notice. In addition to this acknowledK- 
ment I state that the Bowles fannl\- took a deep interest 
in "The Historx- of the Crispe h'annlx . " and donated to- 
wards ii^ ])nhlication 

THK HDWI.l'S i-a:\iii.v. 
" Tile firij^in of the P.owh -- famil>-, so far as known 
to the writer, is as follows: TIk- famil\ fi)nnerh' resided 
at Ca\-anhrook, Kent, I{n<.;land. A widow with four sons 
— Thdinas. Richard, Rohert and losiah — renmx'ed to 
I'^lderdeii I'"arni Chart , near .Sutton Valance, Kent. They 
also occupied the Chanc\- Court farm adjoinuiL;. 

"The eldest snii Tluunas 1 m\- ,i;reat L;raiid-father) 
married Sarah Hoonnan; took the Sweelin.^'s farm at 
Stapelhur-t: had three sons. Thomas, Richard and Roh- 
ert, and two datijjhters. Sarah, a twin with Thomas, 
horn Dect-mher 11, ij.sg, married Rohert Colgate, wlio 
L-mit;rate<l ahnut 1702 to New Vnrk citw In TS62 some 
of the- faiiiih were liviny- in that cit\- and were wealthy. 




Mi;s. I. I). r,( i\\ 1,1 s. 

il'riM ilia ( ris|nM 




i.K. I. I) r.dW ii.s. 

.|'..-r JT.S,. 



THi', CRISPH I'AiMILV. 



'PlK-ir nanus, as far as I knuw, ai\- William HmvKs, 
Chaiius ;nul Cliarli)ite. Tin.- lattir was born January 4, 
17S1, al Hnlin<;l)\irn. 

" Mar\-, the second datiLjlitcr, was horn January 4, 
i;^';,: niarriid Iilt cousin, William lioormau, tif Chantry 
farm. Ilt-adcorn, Jamtar\' 1, i7.S3,an(l had a larg'c family. 

" The abovf account is taken from the record left l>y 
Knlierl bowks, lujrn in Ivu^^land June i, ijcir: died iu 
iS<'i_'. on the farm adjoininj^ m>- father'.s — John I), 
bowles — near Harrisfju, (~)hio. 

"It is probable that Thomas, tlu> eldest son of the 
uiclowat I'.lderden, was liardlx' born earlier than 17,1'^. 
an<t il is not likeK- that the birth uf his nuitlier woidtl 
have occurred before abotit the year 17:0. This is as far 
as I can trace the famil\- b.ick; v'v/: to the widow with 
four sons. 

" All of the ]k>wles family iu this coiuitr\-. and 
formerly iu ]vij;land, have descended from Thomas and 
Richard, sons of the first Thomas Bowles. The third 
son, Robert, died witliout isstie. 

"Robert Bowles, son of Richard and grand-sou of the 
ilder Thomas l^owles. my notes dated Julv 17. iS64--say 
is dead. He was said to he the last male survivor of the 
family in England, his only brother, Frederick, having 
emigrated to New Zealand. 

"The three other sons of the widow of lUderdeu 
died bachelors. 

" Of our immediate family, my father, John Dendy 



278 THK HISTORY OF 



Bowles, was burn at Chatham, Kent, luiK'^T'fi. October 
II, 1S04. At the a<;e of fifteen he was apprenticed to 
his nncle, Ste]ilien l)en(l\-, a surgeon and apothecary of 
Horsham. At a and cj \ears of a^e respecli\-el\- he 
pas,sed examinaiion at Apothecaries' Hall, London, and 
became a memlitr of the Ro\-al C'ollege of Surgeons. His 
diplomas bear tlie si^Miatnres df Dr. John Aberneth\' and 
Sir Astley Coojier. April i(\ I'S.v'^, !ie married Pris- 
cillia Crispe at Cincinnati. The wetldinjj; tour to h"ng- 
laiul was made in the Oreat Western, the first steamship 
that ever left America for ICurojie. Keturnint!;, he set- 
tled ii]ion thi- old homestead east of 1 Ian ison, where he 
li\-ed about fort\- years and reared liis famih'. I'arcticed 
medicine successfull\' foralxiut twent\ years. Retired 
from practice in 1S3.S. In 1S78 removed to Harrison, 
Ohio, where he resided tnitil his dealli, wliich occurred 
May 18, 1897. He was aged ()2 \ears, 7 months and 7 
da}.-s, having lived twentx'-two years beyond the period 
alloted to man. 

".Six children were the issue of the marriage to 
Priscillia Crispe. 

"The first son, Charles (i),was born October 5, 
1839; died August 20, 1840. 

"Harry (2): born July 14, 1841; attended schoi'lat 
Teacher's Institute at Harri.son in 1858-9; also Farmer's 
College, near Cincinnati, in 1857, and also in i860; mar- 
ried May 2, 1866, to Jane Simons, aged 20 years, who 
graduated in 1864 at the Oxford Female College, in But- 



THlv CRISPE FAMILY 



k-r count\-, Ohio: in iSTi; sctlk-il upon a farm of loo 
aoris four iiiiK-s south of Harrison, and 1 hax'i.' rcsiik-d there 
to tlu- tinu- of this writini,': ha\-f one son, Chark'S Deiuly 
r.owk's; horn I'ehrnary ir, 1S74. Ani \-ery ]ik'asanlly 
anil coniforlahly .situated with my wife and son, l)oth 
liN'int;. and I am fio years ohk 

"John I.;, 1; born April 25, 1S44; ilieil January 12, 

" Ivlizaheth ^-p: the onI\- dauijlUer; unmarried; was 
horn January ig, 1S47; named after nn- grandmother, 
h'.li/aheth Co\-ilk', who married William Crispe; gradu- 
ated at the Ohio Female College, near Cincinnati, in 
1S67; taught school until al)ont iS-^!; after th.-it time for 
ahont twenty years was devoted to the care of her a.ged 
]>arents until the time of tlieir death; now resides with 
Iter brother iMank, in Harrison, since the death r>f his 
wife, Sarah (lavside IJowIes, wdiicli occtn-ied in JnU', 
1S97. 

" Frank Howies, fifth son, born December 22, 1S49; 
attended school at Farmer's College and Lebanon, Ohio; 
lived at the old homestead after his marriage in 1S77. 
In his yoiuiger da>-s was a farmer, later a stuveyor, and 
since February, 18S6, has been engaged in business a.s a 
private banker. Has one son, Walter Crispe Bowles, 
aliont twenty years of age, antl named after hi.s grand- 
mother's family. Frank had also one daughter. Jennie 
Garside, who died in infancy. The second marriage of 
Frank Rowlcs, President of the Citizens' ]5ank of Har- 



2 So THIC HISTORY OF 



risoii, to Mrs. Ara Rl-IIl- Wilcox, of Lexington, Kentucky, 
occurred at Christ Kiiiscopal Church, in tliat citw No\-cin- 
licr 20, iSoo. After spending the winter foUownin in 
Cahfiirnia, the\ returned to Harrison, remodeled his 
former resideiife and then settled down to a lite of ek- 
tj;ant comfort. 

"Dr. Thfimas I'.owles writes as fdllows; 

" 'Thomas l'.(i\\ks, M. I)., was Imrn Ma>- it; 1S32. 
and am the >iinni;(.st of the f.imily. Triscillia Crispe 
was my mother M\' e.ule life was spent at home. Was 
educated in the connnon liranches l>y my fath';r, Hr. John 
I'. Bowles, at linme. and not in the common schools. At 
twenty I bejjan teaching: school, fullowinu that occtipa- 
tiou for five }-ears. Was married to Ivmma Slete, ni Har- 
rison, Ohio, in 1^73, We lia\e two danyhttrs. one, 
Florence, now Mrs. ]'.. IV McCalTert\-, of Sharplnir.t;. 
rennsyhania. Thev have two children, Thmnas I'.owdes 
McCafferl>', tlnee and a half years old, and bahy Ruth, 
born March 4, igor, eight nioiuhs old Our other 
daughter, Bessie, is unmarried, and lix'es at home; is 
now 22 years of age. 

" 'In 1SS7 we purcha.sed the old hoimstcad of Robert 
Bowles, a cousin of m>' father's; a farm of 212 acres, 
two and a half miles east of Harrison, Ohio. We re- 
sided there till the fall of 1891, when we moved to Har- 
rison, renting our farm for ca.sh rent. I entered the Ciii- 
ciiuiati Electric Medical Institute in the fall of i8g6; 
graduated on May to, iSg.S, and have been engaged in 



^>'l*! 



i„h.4jKfii 



W 
w-^- 



^:%^- 



liiKSllAM lAKM, 




MR AMI MK^. I, HW AKI) fKISl'K 
iP.iUf jSS.i 



THE CRISPE FAMILY. -85 

in the practice of medicine ever ^ince. I sofin trained an 
extensive practice and lia\e all tlie Inisiness I can look 
after.' 

"The family of Richard linwles. mv father's hrother, 
anil RolK'rl, his cousin, are for the most jiart in this 
countr\-, and part of them are in the \-icinity of Harri- 
son, Ohio. The fannlv of William Howies, also father'.s 
consin, who liveil in Kentuck\- as late, I think, as about 
l.Sdo, I have for the present lost tiack uf. 

' II.\KKV How l.KS." 
CHAKI.K.S CKISPK (in. 

Charles Crispe < B »; liorn 1.S07: was married hut left 
110 issue: ilied in luigland anil buried in Sutton \'alance. 
See ]iaL;e 143 of this liook. 

J.\MKS CKISPK !Cl. 

James Crispe (C): born in Sutton Valance, vSeptem- 
ber 16, 1809. He received a good education, and when 
a \-ouiiK man became 1 1834) a farnur at Moiuit Pleasant 
Farm, where he farmed for a period of fifteen \-ears. 
He was married to Miss Maggie Pendergrasl in 1831, 
and their children were; James lai, Sarah (bi, Maggie 
ici. Charles (di, Mary ic), Charles if), William ig>, John 
ih', F:ii7.abeth lii. Pri.scillia ,ji. In 1849 he left tlie faim 
and opened a malt house at Sutton \'alance. Here he 
continued until 1850 when he moved to Gravesend, 
Kent, and worked as an employe in Plain's brewery. In 
1858 his son, Charles 1, f ^ being very ill, his medical ad- 
visers directed that a change of climate be granted, and 



286 THlv HISTORY OF 



James decided to emio-rate to America to save the life of 
his son. On Ma>- i, 1S5S, lie and his entire fainil\- set 
sail in the sailing boat Tajiscott, and after a jonrnex- of 
sixty-four da>-s llie\' :irri\-e<l at New York on Jidy 4th. 
From iKTe the\- sailed to Detroit, Michi<;an; from there 
to Kalamazoo — to Plainwell. In IMainwell he purchased 
a farm al Aim", of forty acres. In iS'yS he went hack 
to visit the folks at Sutton \'alance. and returned to 
America in March 1.S79. In the fall of '70 he and wife 
again crossed the ocean for luiglaml, an<l remained about 
four years in search of the property rights of hisatmt, 
Mrs. Sophia Wilkins. He cnjssed tlie sea sewn times, 
and on his last visit t" luigland he died at Sutton \'al- 
ance Decemlier ;;, rSyo. His wife <lied .\pril 9, 1S91 — 
she was S2 years old. lames was a \-er\' determined 
man, and weighed 175 pmnids. When a \ouug man he 
belonged to the home guard at Suttnn \"alance. He was 
a calverxinan of the home gn ird anil ser\-ed in this capa- 
city about eighteen years. He had ten children: 

James (a>; died when ig years old; buried at Sutton 
\'alance. 

Sarah (!)): married Mr. Charles Adams; they had 
three children — Mar\- 11). Sarah (2), Charles- (3). 

Mar>- ( ih married Mr. J. Dodds; their children are 
William, Earnest and Roy. 

Sarah (2); no particulars. 

Charles (3); married; no further particulars. 

Maggie (c); married a Mr. Cal\-ert. first husband; 



THIv CRISl'I'. I'AMILV. 2.S7 



cbildrcn —Warren ( i ). I'lora (21, Thomas (3). 

Warren i i ); died when tlirei.' \-ears old. 

l'"liira I 2': married 10 Mr. Charles Smith first Ims- 
bantl, and I'rank Smitli, second liushand. 

Thomas i-^e married: no issue. 

MaL;i;ie's second husband was Mr. ]'.. Farwell. and 
to them Were born two children — lohn '41. Julia 151. 

John '41; married Miss Ctolden; tliev ha\e three 
childred — Clarence, James and I. aura. 

JiUia'5': still lives at Flainwell, Michi>j;an. 

Charles ul'; died when a baby. 

Mar_\- 'ee married Mr. I'orkquett, fiisl hnsliand; no 
issue; she married Mr. Carr, second hnsband; no issue. 

Charles if; single. 

\\'illiam Clement Crispe ig); was born on the \-\h of 
I'cbruary, 1842, in Sutton \'alance. Kent, I'ai,L;lau<l; went 
to school at Gravesend, and continued there until he was 
fifteen sears of aj.(e: after lea\-inp scliool he occupied his 
time fanning: emigrated to America in iS.s^S, and settled 
at Plainwell. Michigan, where he assisted on his father's 
estate: he was married January 21, 1S72, to Miss Sussie 
Sagcr, of Whalen, Allegan county, Michigan; they have 
no children, and at present are living on their farm at 
Bradley, Michigan, 

John ilii: married ICmaline Kmer_\-; no issue. 

Elizabeth lii; married Mr, R, Xelson; no issue, 

Pri.scillia (ji; married Mr. William Adams: no issue. 

For the particulars of Mr. James Crispe iC' and his 



2-88 THlv HISTORY OF 

ten children I am indebted to Mrs. Piiscillia Crispe- 
Adams. .She also supplied nie with a picture of Mount 
Pleasant Manor, and took a deep interest in this work. 
She died a few >-ears ago, and is buried at tlie I'lainwell 
Cemetery, Miclii),;an. 

rKISCII.I.IA CKISPK (D). 

Priscillia Crispe ( D), fourth child of William Crispe 
and Grace Elizabeth (iOodw>n, was born at Sutton \'al- 
ance, linj^land. She was married to Mr. William Smith, 
of Folkstone, luigland. To them were born three child- 
ren — William (a)' John (b) and Charles (ci. This entire 
family remained in England. See page 144 of this book. 

EDWAKP CRISPH (H). 

Edward Crispe (E), fifth child of William Cns])e and 
Grace Elizabeth Goiidw>ii. The major portion of the 
Crispe people in America are especially interested in this 
Edward Crispe, because he is the immediate grand rela- 
tive of a large oftispring of Ciispes in the I'nited States. 
Introductory remarks of him can l)e seen on page 144 of 
thi.s book. Born May i, 1S02; by occupation a miller, 
baker and farmer. Married Miss Elizabeth Munn in 
1827. Owned Forsham Farm, Sutton \'alance. On 
February 17. 1852, he and his entire family of nine 
children set sail for America — the particulars of which 
will be given when describing the oldest child, Edward. 
He lived at Plainwell, Michigan, the greater part of the 
time, and after rearing a large and devoted family, he 
died August 21, 18SK, aged 86 years. He lies buried at 




MRS. K. r. CKisn-; 



'3&^ 1^- 




Mk. i:. i. Lkisi' 

(I'^.Ut- 204. i 



THK CRISPI". FAMILY. 293 



IMaiinvell, Micliigaii. He was a man of umisual ck-ter- 
mination. He was exceedin>;l\- parlinilar, and Iiis rt']iti- 
taiioii for bfing straightforward ami liomst is t\].iical of 
tlic Crispe character. In the latter p.irl of his life he re- 
tired from miUins, tlie occni)alioii he f(]llowed for a gen- 
eration. 

It is of concern to tlic Crisjie jieoiile to know some- 
thing of the wife of r;dwar<l. Her name was I'dizahtth. 
The Munns were of Saxon extraction. Her father was 
Thomas .Miniii, who married Mar\- Wise, and to them 
were horn twelve children, ;;s follow-: Tliomas in; 
William ':?', Henry '3', John '4'. (ieorge'51, Mar\- 'f^n, 
hdizabeth '7', Rebecca 'Si, Jeremiah Uji. Jenmiah '10), 
Hannah 1 1 I \ Cliarles (i2i. These children married and 
reared large families, as folhjws: 

Thomas (!•; married Miss Crachick; children — Mary 
r.eorge, I-'lizabeth, Thomas, Charles. Ivdward, Marrella, 
Hannah, Fanny and Orace. 

William 12,: married Mis'- Wakelleld: the>- had four 
children: no further particulars. 

Henry (3); married Mis'^ Lillywhite: children — Har- 
riett, Henry, Jemma, James, Lucy .and ]''.thelender. 

John ' 4V married Betsc>- Young. 

George (5^ married Mary Sawart: children— Mary 
William, George, Anna and FAy. 

Mary 1.6); married Mr, Homewood: children — F.liza, 
Isaac, George, Grace, Fanin-, ]'.]\- . and a few others. 

EHzabeth (7^ married h'dward Crispe; children — 



294 THIC HISTORY OF 

Edward, Grace, William, Priscillia, John, Anna, Alice 
and Ennna. 

Re1)ecca (S); married Stephen Crouch; children — 
Hannah, Charles, Rebecca, Alfred and Alliert. 

Jercmiali (9); died young. 

Jeremiah ( 101; died young. 

Hannah (11): married Jame.s Honey.sett; children — 
Eliza, James, Ivli/aheth, George, John, Jumna, Albert, 

Charles { 12 ); married; had a child named John. 

The Oispe ]ieople are more especially interested in 
Elizabeth Mumi, who married Ivdward Crispe, the sub- 
ject of this sketch. I^lizabeth Munn-Crispe was a gen- 
erous and pious woman. She was concerned mostly in 
the welfare of In r own f.amily, and as a housekeeper she 
graced womankind. She was well educated. She was 
born at Bredlunst, F.ngland, on February 23, 1S05. She 
was a most de\'ote(l mother, and when her daughter Alice 
died, shegrie\-ed so deepl>' that it caused her own death on 
January S. iss^. She lies buried at Plainwell, Michigan. 

To I'.dward Crispe and Elizabeth Mimn were born 
eight children, as follows: Edward (a), Grace (b), 
William (C), Triscillia (d), John (e), Anna (ft, Alice (g), 
Emma (h). 

KDWARD THOMAS CRISPE (a). 

Edward Thomas Crispe, the eldest son of Edward 
Crispe and Elizabeth Munn, was born in New Haven, 
Sussex county, England, July 17, 1829, and baptized at 
Headcorn clmrch, Kent. At the early age of four, his 



THI<: CRISPE FAMILY. 295 

parents moved to Sutton \'alnnef. Kent, into the For- 
shani I'arm. His enrl_\' education lie received at the pub- 
lic schools of >Sulton. In his youth he latiored on the 
I'orshani F'arni, and at the age of 23, on F'ebruary 11, 
1S52, was married to Miss lunma Rassett, of F^ast Pcck- 
hani. On the following: day. he and his wife, in com- 
pany with his parents, set sail from London on the 
"American I-!at;le" for America. After a \-o\-a<;e of four 
weeks and six days, they l.uided at Xew York. I'roin 
there the>- went to Albau}-, Buffalo, F^rie and to CK-\x-hind, 
where the\- settled. Here Mr. Crispe workid in the 
lumber company for Dr. F!\-ereU, where he had the pleas- 
ure of hanliny; the lumber for the first State fair e\-er luld. 
Li 1.S54 he and his wife came to I'lainwell. Michiuan, 
where they took up eight>- acres of uo\-ernment laml. and 
worked several farms in the \-icinity of Flainwell. 'IMie 
Martin farm was well stocked and in the best jiossible 
condition. 

Li iS,<>2. he and f.amih' came to Chicajjo, where lie 
became a partner, rnimiuE; and manayitii; the Garden City 
hotel. In 1S93 he went to Plainvvell antl settled on a 
fruit farm on the borders of the village, where he still 
lives in a well and comfortably furnished home. 

Mr. Crispe has the reputation of being; a practical 
farmer and a judge of stock. He is well known in the 
vicinitv as a man of somid opinion on affairs that relate 
to matters pertaining to the tiller's art. He is especially 
esteemed for his honest business principles, and the pro- 



2')6 THE HISTORY OF 

ducts of his fruit farm need hut tlie stamp of his appro- 
\'al, and in the market no fnrtlier in(|uiry is necessary. 

He has the henion element of Hberahty in his make- 
up, and possihly a stricter accounting- would have been a 
blessing to himself and wife; hut if the}- ha\-e suffered 
from a tendenc\- of ultra-charitable dispositions, they 
certainly ha\-e reajx-d the enjoyment which must come 
from the saying, "It is more blessed to .give than to re- 
ceive." Mr. Ciispe has taken deep interest in the wel- 
fare of his fannly, ami rendered such assistance as he 
could affortl, exacting from his children only such results- 
as would reflect creditably on the good name of Crispe. 

He and his devoted wife ha\-e expressed their appre- 
ciation of the "History of the Crispe Family" in a liberal 
donation. To them belongs the credit of having lent 
much encouragement to its author in the form of securing 
facts, data and information m the Crispe famih- of the 
past generatinn. It is proper that in this sketch of him- 
self and wife that a grateftil tribute be conferred on them 
for this devotion to the task in hand. He seemed es- 
pecially interested, and fortunately possessed such facts 
as no other one of the family could impart. 

Mr. Crispe's marriage to Miss Emma Basset t impells 
us to incorporate in this sketch an account of this good 
family: 

The Bassett family inhabited the County of Kent, 
England, and their homestead was at West Peckhani. 
George Bassett, the grand-father of Mrs. E. T. Crispe, 




MR. AND MRS. I,. i . ( KISI'h. 
ll'at'i- 104.1 




MK. AM) MKS 



W . |ii;i,.\Ni 



Till'. CklSI'I-; I'AMII.V. 301 



was lioni al West Pcckhaiii, luiglaiul, alxnil the year 
1774. lit' had a comiiKiii ^chiid] L-chicalioii, He was a 
man (jf iiu-dium si/e. and ])(ississe<l an a,L;reealile ihsposi- 
licin. His wife was of a slender stauie. He diid in 1^4;-,. 
His wifu was 64 years ijld when she died, 'rhe\- had six 
cliilchen- Kieliard. Calab, Ck-ort^e, Isal)ella, Martha ;nid 
Marv. Of these chilch'en Ceor.ue was tlie father of Mrs. 
1',. T. Crispe: lie was luirn at West IVckhani in iSo:;: he 
\\as a farniL-r liy oceupation, and wlien ahutil twenty 
\ears (lid married Miss Maiy Stnuv'. ;uid the>- resided at 
I'.ast I'eckham. I'intjland. Al the a«ei'f fifty -five he he- 
eanie Idtally Mind. He was five feet, se\-eii inches tall, 
and weijihed abont i^opounils: he was a ^reat lover of 
mnsic, and was const.intly heard whistlinu;. In business 
nfYairs he was unusually strict, and of a rather retired 
nature. His wife, Miss Stone, was of Y.aldinLT, Kent, 
lui^land: she was born in ^792, and in 1S2S married 
GeorRo Bassetl: she died in 1R72. and was buried in Tun- 
bridi^e, Kent. She was retired in disposition, and \'er\- 
industrious.. The ajipearance of her home was her daily 
concern; and she was exceedingly neat and tidy in all she 
executed. She loved her children devotedly, and this 
affection bordered on worship. These parents were 
blessed with a family of five children — Mar\'. born 1S29; 
I'hnnia, born 1831: Caroline, born 1.S33: Julia, born 1S36; 
and Martha, born 1839. Of these, Mary died single; 
Julia was married to Mr. Calab Bell, and their children 
are: George, Calab, Arthur, Kmma, Ella, Herald and 



THl' HISTORY OF 



Alfred; luniiia married Mr. E. T. Crispe; Martlia mar- 
ried Dr. Maudlin, no issue; Cari)liiie died at tlie age of 
t\\eiit\-eiL;lu . 

Mi>s Kmma l^assett, who married Mr. I",. T. Cri>]>i.\ 
is of special iiiteresl. She was born at Ivast I'eckham, 
l'',ni;land; was m.n'ried on I-'el)rnar\- ii, I'-is^. and emi- 
grated with her husliand to .America, where her career 
com])lemenls thai of her luisliand. She has inlierited 
from her mother tlie great love of systematic housewifery, 
and her indnstiions fignre is constantls- stri\-ing to keep 
her home in neatest appearance. Her accomplishment 
in the art of cooking is known to all who have had the 
jileasnreof her prandial preparations. The congenial di.s- 
pi.siiionof whu-h --he is possessed has heen an element 
in her nature which has characterized her thrcnigh life. 
Their children are -Mar>- Stone (ai, Pxlward Case (li), 
Julia h'mma u-t, WUliam Howard (d), John Leonard 
i e I, and Allie Xeedham ' f i. 

M.\Rv s'rdxp: CKisi'K tai. 

Marv Stone Crisjie ( a ) is the first child of E. T. 
Crispe and hhnnia liassett; was horn in the city of Cleve- 
land, Octoht-r 6, 1.^52. From here she moved with her 
parents to Plainwell, Michigan. In the fall of 1857 she 
heg.m to Littend the Plainwell public school, and in 1870 
she linished her course at the school and .subsequently at- 
tended the Plainwell high school for two years. In 1872, 
desirions of serving in the capacity of teacher, she took 
the count \ examination for teacher, and having passed a 



Till': CklSI'l-. I'AMILV. 30;, 

satisfactory (.■xainiiiaticin. was i^raiiiud a tliird s^radc- ct-r- 
tificaif. SIr' was ciis^aijc-d as a irachfr in tlic Silver 
Creek schoi il , Kalani i/oo cunniy, ami receiveil $3.50 per 
week, iiicliisi\-e of her Ijoard, for a period of five nionllis. 
Tile next \-ear she tan,i;lit at Cum I'lains Center at 56 
].)er week and board foi fmir months. On Ma\- S, 1S76, 
she was marrieii to Mr Delano, at the li.iptist ehnreh, 
Kalania/oo, She has nand thieu lox'int; children, and 
is a de\'(ned niothei , II-.T luisliand, William Delano, the 
llrst son of John S. Delano .nid I'lKehe X.isli, was horn 
the 4tli (lav of May. rS^;, at I'lainwell. Michigan. At 
the a<,'e of se\-en he I)e,i;an to attnid the Oum I'lains 
Center distriet school, antl in iSfnj. at thea';eof ei,L;lUeen. 
he completed the ])rimar\' cours- of stnd\. Dinin.t; this 
period he assisted in the farminii' of his fathei's lart;e 
farm — 240 acres. He was e.i.y;ei to obtain a good ednea- 
tion, and with his sp.uinj^^s entered the Otseg-o lii,t;h 
school, where he attended for npwards of thrive \ears. 
In the spring of 1S73 his father rewarded him foi- his 
>'otnhfiil industry b\' ]5iesentini; to him fort\- acres of 
dense forest. Vount; William set out with viKilance to 
clear away the trees. In less than llee vijars he had all 
the timber cut off and the land fit for the plow. .After 
havin.g prepared the land so it would yield snfTieient jirov- 
ender for two people, he married .Miss Mar\' vStone Crispe 
in the spring of 1876. Hislo\-e for work, and his natural 
great energies, soon found insufficient t-niployment on the 
fortv acres, and he >-earlv rented from fort\- to eight >■ 



304 THI<; HISTORY OF 

acres of nei_e;hb(iriii,s: land, and toiled with eager hands 
to found sufficient wealth to insure a conifortahle li\-iii.<;. 
To these jiarents were hiirn three children — Raymond 
W., born June 23, 1S77; ]5eniice M,, liorn hY-bruary 14, 
1RS2; Richard C, born Au.uust 13, 1S.S7. Mr. Delano is 
the immediate offspring of the jiioneers rif his jiortion of 
Michigan; he is a -reat lo\-er of children, and ])ro]i(ises 
that his children shall recei\e a good edncatiim. His 
three children attend the Plainwell higdi school, and their 
daughter, Hernice, a bright and proniisino; stiinig lad\-, 
after teaching a term of school, took a sjK-cial teacher's 
training course at the Northern Indiana Xornial .school. 
She is at present teaching in the town of Plaiuwell, 
Michigan. 

ICDWARn C.XSK CKISVK (h). 

Kdward Case Crispe (b) was born near Plainwell, 
Michigan, on Jtnie 12, 1S53; li\-ed with his parents and 
helped on the farm until at the age of 23; then entered 
I\-e's Handle Factory; two years later he was married to 
Addie D. Hunt, on Augtrst 2H, 18S0. He continued 
working in the same factory for .se-vx'U >'cars; was offered 
the foremanship several times, but would not accept, 
owing to failing liealth, and taking the ach-ice of his 
physician to be out in the open air and sini, rented a 
farm on Gum Plains, Michigan, for five years, then 
mo\'ed to Bowen's Mills, Michigan, where he has a well 
equijiped farm. He is a careful and pains-taking tiller 
of the soil, and his thrifty spirit, coupled with his great 




\1K. W. II. ( KISl'K 
(I'.iUf 511.1 




W . II. ( KISI'K 
.111.- K.-.uiii-i 




MK. I. N, (I It i| I ^ 



THE CRISPH FAMILY. 309 



lii\-e n( (irdur ami pifoisinii. ])lafcs liini fdrniosi as a 
fariiKT iif his section ai i\w Stale. Mv lias ln^'cii uiiiiii- 
(.-iitlx- successful in this ficKl of lalmr, and his jundncls, 
as well as cattle and stock, are as >;()od as the section pos- 
sesses. His upright nuthods of business has won for 
him the esteem of all who ha\'c the pleasure of his ac- 
iiu.iiniance. 

His wife, .\ddie D. Hunt, youu.c:est chiM and only 
dau,u;hter of William and Phedova Hunt, was horn Sep- 
temlier i, iSCi, tlu-ir home then heintj near Pl.iinwell — 
two miles north, and a (ptarter of a mile east. She spent 
her .i.;irlhood there, and entered the Plainwell hi.uh school 
at the a<;c of i,v and was kept there for three >ears. In 
the meantime her parents sold the home there and bouiiht 
th" one they now occupy near P.owen's Mills, liarry 
county, Micliigaii. She commenced the sttnK- of music 
at the age of 8; was married at the age of 19 to I'.dward 
C. Crispc, in Middleville, Michigan, bv I. P,. Tallman, 
jxistorof the M, I'",. Church. She is of a progressive dis- 
]iosition, and has by studious elTorts accomplished many 
of the arts wdiich go to make a home happy. Her needle 
work is known throughout the county, and at County 
fairs she has always been among the prize winners. 
These people unfortunately have not been blessed with 
children, though the\- both idoli/e little folks. 

Jfl.I.X KrviMA CRISPE iCV 

Mrs. J. X. Cooley, nee Julia I-ainna Crispe (c) was 
born in Allegan county. Michigan, October 8. 1S59. She 



-lo TUV. HISTORY OF 



acquirt'd a coinnioii school education. In licr carl\- life 
she entertained the anibitiun of hei-oniint; a trained nurse, 
and so entered ihe huspital at Kalania/oo, Michii^an; 
later she was on the stafT uf nurses at Wauw at(isa, Wis- 
consin. It was while here that she first met Mr. James 
X. Coole\-, lier husli.md. Julia was married to Mr. 
Co<iIe\' tin Jmu- 3S, i.S.X;. The\- lived al .\iiplelon, W'ls- 
ciiusin, for some little lime, and then mn\eil to Menn- 
nionee, Miehii;an, and laler to I)etroil, Miehi<;au. I'roin 
here the>' mo\ed to Hnwille, South Dakota Her hus- 
band, Mr. James X. Cooley, the son of a nunister of the 
Methodist Iqiiscopal Church, reccix'ed a gnod education- 
aiid in liis early careei' was a ho^k-keeper foi a lar.i;-e luni, 
her company at Appleton, Wisconsin. While the\' li\-ed 
at Menomonee, Wisconsin, Mr. Coole\' was the pi()])rietor 
of a .t,n-ocery store. In liowdle. South Hakota, he did a 
splendid hiisiness in furniture, and at present is c lue of 
pro.i;ressi\e business men of that town. lioth .Mr. and 
Mrs. Coole\- are mend)ers of the Methodist lipiscopal 
Church, and are acti\-e in the church work. They have 
a family of three children — Claytc^n I). Coo]e\-, born in 
Menomonee. Michi.ijan, March 27, 1SS4; Herald J. Cool- 
ey, born at Bowdle, Sotilh Dakota, December 19, 1891; 
Charles D. Coole}-, the yfiunjicst, born at How<lle, South 
Dakota, March 29, 1.S94, 

In 1S9.V Mr. and Mrs. Cooley visited the Columbian 
World's Fair, and they spent several weeks visitin.e^ their 
relati\-es in Chicago and \-icinit\'. Mrs Coolev has a 



Till' crisit: rAMii.v. '.u 



taste for tliL- artistic, and Inisies liersclf willi fancy work. 
In lu-r (lays of \-oiith she took to oil work, aiul la-r jxiinl- 
in-^s t;a\'c- e\-i(k-ncc- of lalt-iit in that direction. Iler hns 
Iiand is a liberal minded gentleman, ami has ilu' cinifi- 
denci.' of all nKii who believ'e in strict lilisiness methods. 
Wll.l.I.XM HOWARD CKI.SI'K idV 

William Howard Crispe <di was horn at Ahno, 
Michit;an, on Jnne 5. iS6c): he received a common scIkjoI 
edncation, and in his younger da\s assistt-d his father on 
the f.iim. In 18.S:; he came with his part-nts to ChicaL;i>, 
and liecime the nit^lu clerk in the (iarden Cit>- hotel. 
Aftir serxini; in this cap.icity a few \ears, he went back 
to I'lainwell. Michiuan, where he assisted on the farm of 
his hrother-indaw, Mr. Delano. lie retnrned to Cliicap;'^ 
shortly after, and Ijecame an emplove of the Norton Tin 
Can h'actory. and leniainetl with this firm for a period of 
two years. On Jtuie 5. 1SS7, he was married to Miss 
Nellie Keating, His wife was horn at Warsaw, Wiscon- 
son. on September 2, 1S65. Mr. William Cris]x\ after 
leaving the Norton firm, emphiyed his time in learning 
the trade of painter atid paper hanger. He is at present 
in this line of business, and has attained good residts in 
this field of labor, ha\'ing had the fortune of getting jobs 
of a particular nature. He has been eniplo\-ed on many of 
the decorating crews of the leading theatres and business 
blocks in Chicago. His wife. Miss Nellie Keating, re- 
ceived a common school edncation in Northern Wiscon- 
sin, where she was reared on her parent's fann. When 



THi: HISTORY OF 



a young lady she came to Chicago; and was married lo 
Mr. William Crispe. To these parents were born five 
children — all of whom were liorn in Chicago — as follows; 
Cieorge Howard, horn ( )ctolier ;,n, iSon; William Keat- 
ing, horn St-pterjiher 5, iSi)2; Ivlward Thomas, horn June 
2. iNi).s: John Rennard, horn Nowmher 7, i.Sijj; Crace, 
horn September 2.S, 1900. 

jdirx ij.;c)N'AKii cKisi'K fe). 
John I.eonard Crisjie (e) was horn at Almo, Michi- 
gan, on April i(), i.sri_|. He acipiire<l a good connnoii 
schof)l education in the town of riainwell, Michigan. 
His earh life was siient on his father's farm, and he re- 
mained at home until he was 21 years old, wlie\i he came 
to Chicago and assisted at the Oardcn Cit\- hotel, which 
at this time was in the hands of his fatliei'. While at 
Chicago his ambition lead him to take a course at the 
Metropolitan Ihisiness College, and after completing the 
prescribed course he was employed b\' the Adams h'.x- 
press Companv', but illness pre\'ented his accepting the 
position offered. His health recpiired less confining 
work, and so he returned to Michigan and occupied his 
time in farming. He has striven to accomplish good re- 
sidts as a clerk in hotels, and his reptitation for rendering 
every possible service in this capacity is well estab- 
lished in Southeastern Michigan, He is a stron.g, robust 
young man, and is a pains-taking and earnest btisiness 
man. The Crispe family trait "of a love for btisiness 
rectitude and systematic order" is well exemplified in 




JdllN 1,. CKISTK 




K.\ I IIAkINK cKisri-. 



THK CRISPK FAMILY. 317 



liiiii. Ho is a .splendid specimen of pli>-.sical manhood, 
and his ])rovvess has on .several occasions been called into 
action when it came to preserving "peace, law and 
order." lie is the ]ioinUar clerk in his part of Michij^-an, 
and as an entertaining conversationalist has estalilished a 
good rejiiitation. He is at jiresont with the leading 
honse at Hastings, Michigan. John Cri^]le was among 
those who lilieralh- contribnted towards this publication, 
.■nid he rendered me nnicli service in determining the rec- 
ords of the Cri--ix- faniih' of Michigan. 

.\I.ICI': M'l'DH.XM CKISl'K i f i . 

Mrs. Dr. H. J. Cigrand, nee Alice Xeedhani Cris])e, 
(f I was born at (inm Plains, Allegan countx-. Michigan, 
on August I. 1S71. She attended the jinblic schools at 
("lUm Plains and at Martin, and in i.^SS^, when her ])ar- 
ents sold their farm at Martin, Michigan, she came with 
them to Chicago, where her parents took possession of the 
Garden City hotel. While at the hotel Alict' took a 
special course at St. Xa\-ier's Academy, and in addition 
to her studies pursued a course in mtisic; her progress in 
the latter was gratifying, as her talent in this direction 
gave promise of proficiency. In iSSS she took her final 
work at the Haven school. On Augtist i, 1SS9. she was 
married to Dr. Bernard J. Cigrand, a young graduate 
from the dental department of the Lake Forest Univer- 
sity. Alice is of a genial disposition, and is eminently 
domestic in her ambition — her home is her happy sphere, 
and her acknowledge domain. Her warm affection for 



3i8 THl'. HISTORY OF 

her family of four, and her constant concern of their wel- 
fare, as well as her con if or ting conipanionshi]) to those of 
her household, is a reputation she has attained. Her 
lo\-e of home is a slront; element in her nature; and she 
has fully mastered the rare art of making home hajijn' 
and attractive, and this seems to be the cherished ambi- 
tion of her life. Though she has had innumerable o])- 
portunities and appointments of a social character, she 
cheerfully declines gix'ing her tiim' to such matters, in 
the hope of rendering no inattention to her family and 
home. The home she lives in occujMes a prominent loca- 
tion in the Northwest side of Chicago, and many of the 
attracti\-e jioints in this modern dwelling are her sugges- 
tions. Her taste in the decorative art inclines towards 
the substantial and simple designs — gaud and conspic- 
uity have no place in her domestic \'ocabidary. She has 
acquired an understanding of the science of housewifery 
which elicits praise from all who delight in seeing a well- 
furnished and tastily arranged home. She has inherited 
from her mother a knowledge of the prandial-board, and 
she has on a score or more occasions selected and arranged 
the prandial for important banquets gi\-en in Chicago. 

Her deep concern in what is of interest to her hus- 
band has made her indeed a companion in life: and lur 
eagerness to lend him a.ssistance is worth\- of mention. 
She has rendered great service to him in copying his 
manuscripts, and searching references in coiuiection with 
her husband's writings. In iSq2 she accompanied 



THI-: CKISIM'. FAMILY. 319 



liini tn tin- McKellop's Daital Lilnary al St. Louis, 
wlu-rc thu filial refciunccs on liis "Ilislorv' of Dt-iilistr> " 
were olitaiiR-d. In iS')'.). wliiii lii-r liiisliaiul went to 
Washiiifftoii, I). C, in tlie inlc-rest of his book, the 
"Oreat Seal of the United States," she enjoyed an ex- 
tended tri]) tliron^;h the east, \-isitini; nuMe esiHciallx- the 
innnnicralile jmiiits of historic interest. She also in the 
year fdlli'winu; travelled south with him. \-isitin}; Maiii- 
niotli Cave and the Southern I'^xposition at Naslu-ille, 
Tennessee. Tlie\- have annuall>-, on the aiiiii\-ersar\' nf 
their wc-ddini; 1 August ist 1, t.akeii a niniiths \-acatioii in 
the fnriii iif tr;i\-el, and liiuce have seen a fair portion of 
the riiited Stales. 

She has accoiiip.inied her husband to innumerable 
.Slate and National nieetint;s of the dental prtjfession, also 
college associations. In 1900 she was his companion in a 
tour tliroiin;li Prussia, Saxony, Hax'aria, Swit/erlaml, 
Luxemburg;, l"raiice and luigland; and while in Luxem- 
Inir.n and I{n,t;land had the rare pleasure of sauntering at 
the homsieads of the Cigrands and Crispes of old. 

She is a truly patriotic American, and her enjoy- 
ments of a social character are mostl>- of this iiaiiire, ami 
she has given evidence in countless ways of her great 
love of the American Republic Her readings are of an 
historical tendency, and she has assisted al upwards of a 
hundred patriotic exercises. Her liome decorations and 
observations of things .Americana, stamp her ,is t>pically 
American . 



320 THE HISTORY OF 



SIr- lias liccn fif considcraMe SL-rvici- Id her luisliaiid 
ill his ])riifessional ami htL-rary siudiuni, and in tokt-ii of 
lit-r uiifalu-ring de\-otioii t(i his juirposes, he has ^eiier- 
(iusl>- inscrihed in her name the "Hislnry of the Crispe 
I-"ainily." 

Tile chidreii of the family crjiisist of Bernard Haw- 
thorne Ci>;rand, Ixirn March 5, iSyo; Joice Alice Ci^aaiid, 
born A])ril 21, iSg2: I{leroy iManklin Cigrand, born 
March 2, 1S95; and lUaine r.lanche Cij^rand, born Feb- 
ruary (J, 1901 . 

Much of what pertains to Iier career is contained in 
the followins; sketch of her linsl)and, \-oung:(st cliild of 
Nicholas Cijirand and Susan Schmidt — as taken from the 
"LaSalle Histor\- of Chicago," ]iage 604 (1899), which 
reads as follows; 

"H. J. Cigrand, B.S., M.S.. 1). ]). S., although still a 
voting man, has crowded into liis few \cars of active life 
more of mental acti\-ity than makes up the life history of 
main- of his fellow-men. He was born October 1, 1S6A, 
at Fredonia, Wisconsin, and it was there that he received 
hi.s early education. Having graduated from the liigii 
school, he spent some time on the State sur\-ey — his share 
of the work being usually to attend to the chain or 
compass. With a desire to help himself to a higher ed- 
ucation, he in 1S82 entered the Northern Indiana Normal 
School, at \'alparai.so, Indiana, and, deviding his time 
between teaching and study, finished his pedagogical 
course in 1S85. He pursued a scientific course the next 




-MRS. i; I. riCKAMi 
(Allic Cns|..-, iM-r 317. 




Dr. 1!. I, CIC.RANl). 




ClIll.DKKN III DK, AMI \IKS I; |. i ICKAMi 







IKi.MI-. Ill' UK. l; 1, I K, KAMI, 
.l.nyaii S,|u.ir.-, i liic:aL;o., 



THE CRISPE FAMILY. 



>-(.-ar. rccuixint; the degree of Bachelor of Science, and 
tlien tau.i;lil four terms in the scliool of his native town- 
sliip, two terms of which his princijial suhject was 
( lerman. 

"He had already spent one year in the study of med- 
icine ]ireparator>' to taking; a course in dental surgery at 
the Northern Indiana Normal School, and he accordingly 
enteretl the dental de-partnieut of Lake Forest University, 
from wiiich he was graduated as valedictorian of his class 
in isss, with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. 
Willi a full determination to thoroughly equip himself 
f . >r his life-work he contintied liis studies in variof.s in- 
stilntions; was graduated from the Chicago School of 
Sciences in iSgi; the Haskell Schorsl of Prosthetics in 
|.S()2, and witli a view to rounding of.t his mental devel- 
opment, he took a non-resident course in industrial, edu- 
cational and political economy in the Chicago University 
in I So; and i S() v 

"During pait of this time Dr^ Cigrand was also en- 
gaged in the practice of liis profession, in which he met 
with the success which his edttcational career seemed to 
foretell. He has since greatly added to his clientage, and 
numlnrs among his patrons the best citizens of his sec- 
tion. He has been located in the northwestern part of 
the citv about tweh-e years, his office being at the corner 
of North and .Milwaukee avanues Aside from his large 
practice he has foinid time to de\-ote to many matters 
growing out of his rank as one of the professional den- 



326 TH]''. HISTORY OF 



lists ill the country. In 1S92 he was elected to the chair 
of Prosthetic Dentistry- in the American College of Den- 
tal Surfers-, and recei\-ed an ailditional professorship in 
metallurgy the following >-ear. He was president of the 
same institntion for several years, and conferred the de- 
gree of D. D. S. on upwards of three lunulred students. 
He was elected to the chair of Dental Prosthesis in the 
Northwestern rni\-ersity in iSijft, at which time the 
American College of Dental Surger\- l)ecaine consolidated 
with the Uiiiversit\-. 

"It is natural that a man of his pr^'ininence should 
be sought after as a nienilier of \-arious organizations, 
and he is a \-alualile niemher of several. Among tlieiii 
might l;e mentioned the Illinois State Dental Society-, the 
Chicago Dental Society, the Odontographic Society, the 
Ha>-deii Dental Society, the Dental Protective Associa- 
tion, and the Colunil)ian Dental Club. He is an lioiiorarv 
member of the Southwest Michigan Dental Societ\' and 
of the Northwestern Universit>- Alumni Societw He 
is a member of the Psi (^mega Greek Letter Society of 
the Northwestern l'ni\-ersity ; of the Masonic fraternity; 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; the National 
Union: the Knights of the Maccabees; and was fornierh- 
a State officer in the Sons of America. He was a meni- 
lier and filled an official position at the Columbian r)ental 
Congress, as one of the editorial-staff of the Dental Re- 
view: and in 1S92, was elected to membership in the Na- 
tional Association of Dental Faculties. In i.Sg4 he was 



THE CRISP]<: FAMILY. 



insti uiiKiital in Digaiiiziiii; the Alumni Association of the 
Northern Indiana Normal School, and was its first presi- 
dent. 

"He has been invited at \arious times to address 
vState dental ^atherinj);s, and has always acquitted himself 
wuli cieilit . One of tile most notal)le of these conveii- 
tion> was the Dental Con<;ress held at lialtimore in iSijS, 
and he has been a clinitian before man\- dental conven- 
tions. 

"The subject of this notice has been a \-ery prolific 
writer on man\- subjects, anil those on dentistr\- appear 
in the leadinij journals of the profession. He is the 
author of a 'Compenditun of Dentistr\' and a 'History 
of Dentistry,' both of wdiich are used in dental colleges. 
He has serx'ed as editor of various periodicals, dental and 
otherwise, among them beino; the Chicaj^o Argus; the 
Dental World; Home, School and Nation; The American 
Standard Magazine; and he is .at ])resent associate editor 
1 if a standard dental publication, the Dental Digest. 
He has also contribtited ntimcrotts .articles to periodicals 
and to the Chicago dailies, for which he receives compen- 
sation. .Xmong his other literar\- works are 'The Story 
of the dreat Seal of the I'nited States,' in two volumes, 
and containing several hundred original en.gravings; the 
'Genealog>- of the Cigrands,' and 'Historic;il (Juerries 
and Answers.' 

" Dr Ci.grand possesses a conmieiidable public spirit, 
and is esjiecially interested in the education of the xouth 



328 THI'; HISTORY OF 



of the country. Kc was influential in the organization 
of the American Flag- Day Association, of which he was 
its first secretary and twice elected president. He has 
been for a nunilx-r of years on the list of speakers of the 
Cook County Memorial Society- to address the pujjils of 
the schools on "various patriotic occasions. He was also 
chosen on the committee to award Victor Lawson medals 
in the schools during- 1896, 1897 and 1898. On January 
12, iSqS, the Northern Indiana Normal School conferred 
upon him the honorary degree of Master of Science. In 
1898 he was elected president of the Illinois Volunteer 
Relief Society, auxiliary to the Arm}' and Navy League 
of Chicago. 

"In 1SS9 Dr. Cigrand was married to Miss AlHe 
Needham Crispe, of Chicago, and is the father of three 
children — Bernie, Joice and Elroy. Thefamih' occupies 
a magnificent residence, wl,ich was erected in 1S98, at 
the northeast corner of Logan scpiare and Hiuniioldt 
boulevard.' ' 

Since the above appeared in the "History of Chica- 
go" ( i8gg ) the following is added to his sketch: 

In 1899 he left as a teacher at the Northwestern Uni- 
versity Dental School, and accepted the professorship of 
Dental Prosthesis and Histor>- in the Illinois School of 
Dentistry. 

When the Spanish-American war broke otit, in con- 
junction with organizing the Illinois Volunteer Relief 
Association, he enlisted as dental surgeon in Colonel 




\ 11 1 nil. AS tlCKANH. 




\1K>, M(. Ill i|..\^ ( K.KWn 




MK. C. K, \1 IDIIAM. 




' ^ «^ 







\]KS (,. |-. \1 I'DIIAM. 



Till'. CklSri'. I'AMII.V 



333 



])nr<j(.-s' \'oluiitL-i.-rs, but hefon.- this com])any was calleil 
out tlu- ircatN- of jK-acc wassii^ned at Paris, aud tliu ci.>ni- 
])aii\' mustered out. Me was anions; the ik-utal ])rol'essioii 
who <Ud much towards ha\-iui;- a deutal surj^eou in the 
War nepartiiienl at W'asliiui^ton. 

lu lijdO he was elected ]>y the facuhy of llie IHuiois 
School of I)etUrist\- a'- a dele,i;ate to the Internatioual 
Congress of ]•!ducator^: he was also ilected a representa- 
ti\e to the Pali- luterualioual llental CoUL;ress: his wife 
accompanied him on this foreign trip, and the\ tia\elled 
throUL;h se\en countries. On his n-tiu'n he arrau<;ed his 
oiii;inal photo.i;ra]>lis into steieopticon \ iews, and .i;a\e to 
m;ni>' laii;e audiences at Chicago the lectin'e entitled 
"Throni;!! Seven Countries in (>ne l-".\eniui; " 

Wilde he was in luiiope, Ma\(ir Harrison --laled him 
for meml)ir~hi]) to the Hoard of PMucation, hut on ac- 
count of ])re-suieof colle.ue work he declined to con--ider 
the Jiosition Ma\dr llatiison aii])oiuted him as one of 
the comnultte of reception to Hon. W, J. l!r\an when 
the latter closed the famous campaign of igoo. In igoi, 
wluai the State I 'ni\-eisit\- or.t;ani/ed its Department of 
Dentistre. he was i.'lecU<l \\< secretar>- and \-oted Pro- 
fessor of the chairs of Dental Pro'-lhe>i-~, Technics and 
Hi'^t.irv. 

In the fall of looi. the Chica.m> Daily News or.i;an- 
i/ed it-^ ■ Public School Lecture Course." and he was 
chosen to be amon<; il>stafTof lecttuers. and he i< to ,L;ive 
hi- lectiu-e ■'ThroUi^h Se\-en Countries in one I'",\-eninij." 



i:,4 THI' HISTORY OF 



At the union memorial exercises j^^iven in honor of Pres- 
ident McKinley's liurial, in the Northwest side of 
Chicag^o, he was selected to Lci\-e llie oration, which was 
entitled' "The (lOvernment Still Lives." 

He has just issued a new book entitled. "The Lower 
Tliird of the Face," containing;: five e.ssaws on the 
"Mechanics, Fine Art. Sculpture. Prosthodontia anil Ps\- 
cology" of this portion of the face. These essays ha\'e 
all heen presented to the leailinj; ilental societies of th.e 
country. 

GK.\CK }ajZAI)KTII CRISPK M! ) . 

Grace pnizabeth Crispe ( B i the eldest dau,!<hter of 
Ivlward and Flizalx-th Crispe. of Plaiiiwell, Michiijan, 
was born in Bred,s;ar. Kent corLnt>-. Iin>,dand. in i.'^,^2, 
and with her parents and the rest oi the faniih' came to 
America in i,S32. On the 24th day of Jiuie, 1S54, .sin.- 
was married to Mr. Geor<:;e li. Xeedham, in the city of 
Cleveland. He engaged in the business of hotel keeping, 
and, with the assistance of his estimable wife, made their 
house a favorite resort for the traveling public, following 
the same line of business in Chicago, Dubuque, Prairie 
du Chien, and finall>' removed back to Chicago, became, 
in connection with his brother-in-law, Mr. Cherry Dele- 
febvre, the proprietor of the Garden City hotel, wdiere 
Mrs. Needham died May 19, 187S. Mrs. Needham was 
one of nine children, and the first one to break the silken 
chord that bound the family so lovingh' together. Her 
death made desolate the home of hvv aged parents, to 



THK CRISPE FAMILY. 



wiioiii she was dear. She was a model wife and coni- 
]iani<)ii, and Iier death h-W with a most crushing weight 
on her lnisl)and, whose ht"e was si> hotnul up in Iters lliat 
lie seemed like one bereft of earthly eomfi jrt . Mrs. Need- 
ham was 46 years old when she died, and was hmied at 
Hillside cemetarw Plainwell, Michigan. 

Her hnshand, Mr. deorge 1'.. Xeedham, was the 
proprietor of the C.arden Cit\ hotel, Chicago. Mr. 
Needham was horn in Kgleton, Rntlaiid, Ivngland, Jlil\' 
2, 1S29, Both his parents died while he was a mere 
child. In i.^.s; he landed in Xew York. A few weeks 
later he went to CUvelar.d, ( )hio. wliere he married 
(".race ]■'.. Crispe, and in 1S54 he c.nne to Chicago, where 
he wiiit into the Ii\ere luisjness. His first hotel \-entnre 
was in the did Rock Island, on Shern;an 'Street, in which 
hostelr\- he remaiiieil until i^(>('>. After selling out that 
propert\- he s]>ent a year in luirope on a ])leasnre trip. 
< 'n his return he jmrcliased a farm in Allegan connt\-. 
Michigan, bnt remained upon it oiil\- ahmit two years. 
He then rettirtied to Chicago .and took wh.at is now the 
Atlantic hotel, at Slierman and \'an Pitireii streets. In 
the great fire lie was l)iniie<i out: he then Iniilt the I'nited 
States hotel, and after the Rock Islands new depot was 
coni})leted he htiilt the C.arden City liotel, into which he 
moved in Angtist. 1S75. He was married twice, l>nt had 
no children: his first wife was Miss C.race Klizabeth 
Crispe. of Cle\-eland. who died in 1.^7.^. In i *<So he mar- 
ried hi-- forimr wife's sister. Miss Ivmma Crisjie, whom 



:,T,r, THK HISTORY OF 



Wf will write of more in detail later in this pulilioatiini. 
Mr. Xeedhani sold the Carilen Cit\' hi itel in iSi)4, 
and was aliout to take an LXtended tri]) abroad; he liad 
just arranged all details for this jileasure trip, and was, 
as he said. ' 'ahMut to take life easy , " wIk-ii withdUt notice 
he recei\-ed the message of death. lie was strollim; 
alinut the cit>- uf Chicago, and chanced tM c-nter a new 
linililing: his in(|uisiti\encss K-d him to clind> up sexeral 
temporarv' stairs, and when cm the thiid -'torv, still with 
out flooring, he stepped on an nnfa^teneil ]>lank and l(.ll 
thnuigh the building to the b.iscmenl; he was immedi- 
atel\ taken !■ ■ the (rarden City hotel, where in a few 
hours he passed away. He was buried at the side of his 
first wife at Plaiuwell, Michigan. 

WILLIAM CKISl'I': (CI. 

The following excellent sketch of this jirnspcrons 
gentleman is taken horn the History of Allegan C'lunts , 
Michigan ; 

"William Crispe, \'. S. This jiruniinent busmess 
man i 'f I'lainwell is a son cf lMlwar<l and Tdi/abeth 
Crispe, natives of P^nglaud, as was also our subject , his 
birth taking place, September ;,, 1S34, in Kent county. 
In 1,^51 he emigrated with his parents to America, his 
first sto]i]iing ])lace being Cle\'elaud, Ohio, where he re- 
mained for four >ears, and in 1.S35 came to Plain well, 
Allegan countx', Michigan, when there was little more 
than a mere settlement where that now flourishing cit\' is 
located. 




MRS. W ILMAM i Kl^^l■. 

(Nrillr Sliuth.) 



w^ 



# 



MR. WILLIAM L KISLK 



THK CRISPl': FAMILY. 341 



"Our ^ulijcct is OIK' iif a t'aniih- of niiir cliildixn, five- 
of whom arc now liviiiL;: liis lioxliood daxs in Ivnt^land 
wi-rr nio>ll\' spent on tlif faini. and lli-. educational ad- 
\antai;cs limited to the common schools. IIcwoil<cil at 
various occupations in Cleveland, Ohio, and after cumin.ic 
to I'lainwcll he learned millin;; in the hrst tlouriui; mill 
built at this place; he later was emplo\ ed in mills at Hat- 
tie Creek. Michij^^an: also in Miiuiesota and Wisconsin; 
and at I'r.nric dn Chien he conducted a li\-erv stable for 
about a \ear. In i S^r, William Crispe ])^lrcha-^ed a 
li\erv stabl'.- in I'lainwell. and continued successfulh' in 
that Inie <]f business ttntil 1SS5, (nvuint; a 'bus line and 
carrxinu the mail- in I'lainwell for about sex'enteeu \e;irs. 
Mr. Crisjjc after eni^atiini; in the li\-er\- business ,!;a\-e 
some alleiitii'U to the diseases of lioises, and made a 
stiulv- of various authentic works on tli;it subject; he has 
for vears lieeu recoo-ni/.ed as a most reliable and intelli- 
;4ent veterinarv siuiicon; his iudt;ment in that line beint; 
con.sidered second to that of no man in this section of the 
country. 

■'Our subject and Miss Xellie Smith were married 
Ajiril ;,, 1S64. Mis. Crispe was born Seinelllber S, 1S4;; 
is a IK tive of Caledonia. New York, a dan.sJ:hler of 
Mitchell and Mr.r.uarct Campbell' Smith, and by her 
union with our subject has liecome the niotlu-r of one 
child, a daughter. Kathrine, a most excellent and intel- 
ligeiu yoiiiiK lady, and a "[raduate of the I'lainwell hi.t;h 
school. In his iiolitical i)redilectious Mr. Cris[ie is a 



342 THI- HISTORY OF 



thorough Democrat, finding in the tenets and doctrines 
of that part)- the lialance of what is truest and best in 
poHtical life. He has l)een honored li\ his lownsn.en by 
1)eing elected to offices on the \'illage Hoard. In social 
matters, he is a Mason. 

"Resides ]iroperly in Plainwell. .Mr. Crispe owns a 
fine farm of 260 acres west nf town, in Otsc.i;i) tinvnship. 
He began life with no means \vhate\-er. and is now rec- 
ognized as one rif Uie weallln' men uf tile township, a 
positif)n he has attained 1)> har<l work and good manage- 
ment. He is a self-made man in tin truest sense of the 
term: his success being due to his (.-lose and intelligent 
application to business." 

I'KISCILL.^ CKISPH ( n I. 
1 am indebted to Mr. (jeorge Le\elt, husband of 
Priscilla Crispe, for tlie memoranda relati\-etci this fannl\' 
and its offspring: 

"I'riscill.i Crispe iD) was born January tj, I'^.^J, in 
Sutton \'alance, Kent. luigland, and li\-ed on a farm 
with her parents till the >ear 1S5;, wlien she came with 
her ]iarents to America, and they setikd in the cit>' of 
Cle\'eland, Ohio. In the >ea.r 1S5;, she was married to 
Edward Grav. He was born on the 2Sth of Xo\-ember, 
1S27, in Bingham, Xottinghanishire, England: he was 
a lace-maker, and ii\ed with l;is ])arents till the \ear 
1832, wdien he came to America: he came alone, and had 
no relati\-es in this ci.iuntr\ : he li\-ed in Cleveland till he 
was married, and in the spring of 1S54 thev movcil to 



Till': CKISl'l'. I'AMII.V. 343 



]5nrt<)n, ("jranjTer comity, Oliio, and iIk-v rfinaincd there 
till the fall of 1S5S, when tliey hk i\e(l to C.iin Plains, 
Alle.ifau count)-, Michij^an. The) li\eil on a farm till 
the year iS6,s, when Mr. CiraN' ilieil, leaxant; his wife 
with fi\-c children. In ttie year 1 ,S6c.) she was ni.arried to 
( 'icorije W. I.cvelt. We li\ed in (rUn Plains and ()tsesn 
till i^;,?, when we inoxcd to the township of Dorr, Alle- 
•;an conntw Michii^an, Priscilla went to AUnirquqUe, 
New Mexico, to N'isit her daui^hter, drace I{ liowinan. 
in the \ ear iSSA, :nid \asited in Chica,L;o the >anie year. 
In 1N<)>> -'he \isited her sister, h'.nnn.i C Polhennis, in tlie 
city of New York. 

"(".eovi^e W. I,e\'elt was horn Jul\- 24, 1S45, in h'it- 
tenden, Kent coinitN', ICn^Iand. I,i\ed there till the \ear 
is^4. wlun I came to America with m\' i>arents. We 
settled ni \\'a\ ne counl\ . Xew \'ork. where I worked at 
farming; till the > ear iNd;, when 1 mo\ed with in\' ]iar- 
eiits to Michigan. I settled in Otsego, .MleKan connl\'. 
.and lived in Otsego and dnn Plains till I was married." 

It is due to state that the\' ha\ e all taken a deep in- 
terest ui this hisior\ of the familw and ha\-e e\-idenced 
this li\- a hheral donation for its publication, 

"Their children .ire as follows: Mai\' P. drax , horn 
March 15, i.'^ss, in (nni Plains, Michii;an, and mo\'ed to 
Dorr with her parents in 1872, and has li\-ed there e\-er 
since; slie was married to George W. Sprout in 1S77; she 
has had the children: Oeo. E. Sprout w,i~ horn December 
16. i.SSi: died Jnl\' 25. !,S,s,S; Kdna N, Sprout, was born 



344 THlv HISTORY OF 



October 4, 1SS3; Orace C. Sprout, born March 29. 1S8S, 
(bed June <.), iSSS; and Nina ^', Sprout. 

"Orace Iv ("ira\ waN horn Ma^■ 25, 1S5C), in Ouu 
Plains, and went to Chicai;i) with her parents in 1.S72; 
staid a >ear and a half there, then h\-cil with lier ]>ar- 
ents in r>(irr most of tlie lime till the \ear iS.Sd, when 
slie was married t<j Mathew I). 15ovvman; the\- li\ed on a 
farm in Illinois for two \e,irs, when the\' mii\-ed to New 
Mcxicn, on .1 cattle ranch, and they lived there nntil the 
\ ear iSgi, when Mr. Bowman died; Orace then nio\ed 
back to I )orr with her family, where she has lived since. 
Slie had fonr chiUlren : Harold (". I'niwman, l.)orn A])ril 
11, i.'^.St; Nathan !'•.. born Au.t;nst s, i.'^-'^.i; drace, born 
October jt): iS.Ss, died Ocl<iber II, iS.St,; l-raiik M., Imrn 
Jnl\ 10, 1S.S7. 

"William Iv (irav was born Febrnar\- 12, isi'n, in 
('.nil Plains, Miclii,t;an; m<ned to Dorr with his jiareiits 
in thevear i''^72, where he has li\ed -.ince. He was m.ir- 
ried in i.s.SO to Minnie H. Hoffman, who is of (terman 
parents. He is a miller b> traile, and condncts a success- 
ful business. 

"Nellie F. r>ra\' was born December 14, 1S62 in 
(run Plains, Michigan: moved to Dorr with her parents 
in 1.S72; lived there until about two weeks liefore she 
died, when she went to Chicago with her aunt, where 
she died on Januar\- 20, i.ssh. 

"Milo F. Cray was born Februar\- 27, iS6r>, in (itin 
Plains, Michigan; he mo\-ed to Dorr with his parents in 








MKS. Cr.i IK(.I 1,1 \ 1 1 I'. 

.l'n..ill., ( ,is|H., 




MK. (;i.(iKi;i i.i:\ !• r\\ 



Tin-; crisit: family. :,49 



iS;^, wliL-ie hu has li\-i.-(l siiict-; in iSSS lit- was married 
to Carrie Xennian: she is of (".erinaii parents. lie is a 
nierchanl anil nnller. The)- ha\e one cliilil — J . M. I>iin- 
alil (~ira>' — burn Ma\- i, iSi^c)." 

Ji iIIX CKI.SVI-: IE), 

Mr. John Crispe ^ 1', ' . of Phiinwell, Miehii^an . iUser\'es 
ilie ereilit of haviiii; s.;i\-en ene'onrai^in.L; assistance in pnli- 
lisliini; this leconl of tlie Crispe fannlw He cheerftilK' 
donateil a lil)eral aniutnu towards its jnihlioation, and lias 
c-ontrililited freeh' tow.irds its compilation. We s^Mther 
from the Ilistorv of Alle>;an Connt_\-, Michi>,nni, the fol- 
louiiii; spleniiiil account of his pros])erous career: 

"John Crispe is one of the welhknown and hij^hly 
]io])nlar citizens of (iim Plains township, Allej,'.i)i coinit\-, 
Michij^an, of which he was Snperxisor for si.\ years: h.e 
is the ])ioneer drtigsiist of Plainwell, and hears also an 
enviahle tecord as a (gallant soldier dnrin,s; the late war. 
Mr. Cii'-pe is a nali\-e of ]uij;land. beini; horn in Sutton 
\'alance. Kent coniitv. June 24, 1S39: lie was the son of 
P'.dward and lUizaheth Mnnn-Crispe, nali\-es of luigland, 
where the father was a farmer, and also a miller. He 
carried on a bakery in connection with his mills for a 
time. He einiurated with his f:tinily to America Febrn- 
arv 25, i.'^52. Idcatint; first in Cleveland, Ohio. In No- 
\-ember. 1S54, he came to Plainwell. where his death oc- 
curred August 21. iS.S.S. when he was 87 years old. The 
mother died Jannarv 7, 1SS4, at the age of So \-ears. 

"Our stibject is one of a fainih' of nine children. 



15" THI' HISTORY Ol- 



five of whom are now living: he was twelve years old 
when lie crossed the ocean witli his ])arents, the x-oyage 
occiip\in,L; thirty days. He had attended school before 
lea\-inL; l''.n,L;land, and was a stndent while residinj; in 
Cleveland, ( 'hii>. At the a^e of fifteen he he^jan learn- 
ing the raining hnsiness at Otsejio, Michif;an, followins: 
it for three >'earsand nine months. When the Ci\il War 
hroke ont he was the first man in the township to enroll 
his name, luit was rejected on acconnt of a <leficl in his 
e>esighl. In i STi^, however, in l)ecend>er, he enlisted in 
the l{ij;lith Michigan Caxalry, nnder Colonel Stockton. 
He was enrolleil as a ])ri\-ate, Init was promoted to lie 
Second I)ul>' Sar>,ri.-nt beforL- lea\-ini; the State He 
ser\ed during; all the celebrated Morgan raid, tra\elin,Lj 
ni>;lU and da\- for 57.S miles after that wih' rebel, and 
was ,<;reatl\' pleased at his captnre, and U> see him <liN- 
armed. He look part in theliattle of Hickman's Bri<I.L;e 
in the ex'ening of the same (lav, havint; a li\el\ skirmish 
at Treflet's Bridge, and defeating Morgan at BufTiington's 
Island. He was at the siege of Knoxville, nnder Burn- 
side, and followed Longstreet to P)nirs (lap. They were 
then ordered liack to Kno.wille, where they left their 
horses and footed it back across the motnitains to Camp 
Nelson, Kentnckw Here the\- were mounted again and 
sent back to Chattanooga, and from there went s(jnth and 
came up with Sherman's arnn- at Resaca. Thev accom- 
panied Sherman to Atlanta, and were in the engagement 
at J<ineslioro, after which the>- were under Thomas in the 



Tin-: CKisi'i'. I'AMii.v. :,5i 

lialtk-s iif Cnhinibia and l"ranklin. Mr. Cri-~])u was dis- 
cliarijL'd at Xasluilli.-. Ti-niu-ssrc, Septciiiht-r 22, i.Sfi5, 
liciiii; iiiustii\il (Hit as First Sar>;L-m of his compan\-, 
IK- plavx-d tin- jiart of a •^Mllaiit soldier dtiriu.^ tlic entire 
war, and looks hack with nnich pleasure to his interesting^ 
expeiiences while ll.uhtiiij; for his adopted coinitr\-, 

"W'luii his services were no loiiijer needed in the 
I'leld, Mr. Crispe retunted to the ptirsiiits of jK-ace, and 
conun^- to I'lainwell en,i.;a.t;ed for a short time in the 
liver> Inisiiie^s, In l"el)rtiar\-, iSC;. he started the first 
din>i >toie e-talili-heil in I'lainwill, and hashcen engaged 
in that hiisintss ever since. Later he opeiieil a jiaint and 
paper store, which he still conducts. He was married 
h'ebrnarv 7. iMii;. to Mrs. .Xinanda Mesick, a native of 
Cohimt>ia\ille, New York, who came to Michigan in 1S57. 
Three cliildren were horn to them — Minnii-. (>ti>- and 
Cherr\- — all of whom are deceased. Mrs. Anian<la Mes- 
ick-Crispe died I)L-cemher 21 . iSyS. 

"Mr Crispe is a stanch Reptihlican, and cast his 
vote for Lincoln. He has been a delegate to District and 
Congressional conventions, and also to the Reptihlican 
National Convention in i.S,S,S. He was Treasurer of his 
township for fi\e years, and in Jainiary iS;;, was ap- 
jiointed post-master serving for ten \eais and three 
month- In April, !S,s6. he was elected Supervisor, 
which office he filled for six years. In 1.S9Q he was ap- 
jiointed hv Ha/en S, Pingree. Governor of Michigan, to 
act as a member of the Board of Control of the Deaf 



35= THI' HISTORY OF 

and Dumb School located at Flint, Michigan. 

"Mr. Crisjx- .shows a deep interest in agricultural 
pursuits, and is the possessor iif two farms located in 
(>un Plains township. Socially he is a nieniher of the 
Mas..nic fraternity, the Odd I"ello\vs, Maccaliees, and 
the Cirnnd Arin>- i if the Kepuhlic. He occujiies a fine 
residence, anil holds an influential ])nsitlnn in the coni- 
nuniity. 

Few instances of distant relationship make them- 
sel\-es more manifest than il.- reseniMance between Mr. 
John Crispe, of I'lainwell, and ex-Speaker Crisp, of 
Atlanta, Oeorgia. Though the\- are related in a <listanl 
manner, there is, ne\ertlieless. a \ery strong famil>' liki'- 
ness, ( )f this we sjmke in our iiUrodnctcir\' remarks on 
page 22 of this book. It will interest all to conqiare the 
facial similarit>' between John Crisjie anil Charles Fred- 
erick Crisp) — distant relati\es. 

Of his wife's death the I'lainwell Fnteriirise in part 
sa\-s: 

"The announcement of the death of this estimable 
laih' was heard with deep sorrow by all. h'ew are so well 
known and so universally belo\-ed in this conununitw 
Two weeks ago she was taken sudilenl>- and \iolenth' ill 
with congestion of the entire system, and although every- 
thing tliat medical skill and loving care could perfnrm 
was done, she continued to suffer and passed quietly 
awa\' last \\'eduesila\' nt 2 p. ni 

"Mis. Cris]ir was born at Cobunbia\'ille, near Al- 




MR. JOHN CKISPK, 
(I'.'iif 349-1 



Jfr 




MKS. |i iHN (, KISI'E. 

lAllKlIl.i.i lil>llittS.) 



nil', CKISl'l'-, I'AMll.Y 



l)aii\', Xc-\v \'iiik, in i1r- year is;,;. At t lie a.m.- of ten 
\ears she unuixed tn Newark, \\'a\ne ccinntv, in tin.' 
same State. Her nia.iden name wa-- Amanda Tilibitts. 
In 1S51 slie was maiiieil to Jaei)l) Mesick, and in llu- fol- 
liiwint^ \-ear llie\' ri-niowd to the t(nvnslii]i of ()tseL;(), in 
this State and eonnl>-. 'Pliev sellled cm a farm on tht- 
n.ain road hetwen these two \-illai;es, hut Mr. Mesiek's 
heallli faihnij; atler a short time he sold out his farm and 
opened a (hai.L; store in tliis i)hiee, then know n as the 
Jnnelion. h'our oliildren weie horn to Mr. and Mr>. 
Mesit-k, one of wliom (hed in infancw Mr. Mesitd< (hed 
in Xo\emher. i."^(i5, lea\ini; his widow with a sdiniL; 
famil\ and llie business to look after. 

■ < )n I-\l>ruar\- 7. i.'^'';. she was married to John 
Cris]ie. and has e\-er since resided in this \illai;e. Three 
children were horn to gladden their home for a time, hut 
these chililren died in infanex'. Suice the death of lier 
daughler, Mrs. Dollie \'. I'uisel, ne.uK' two \ears ai;<), 
her healtli ha<l hei^an to fad. hut she had attended to the 
alTairs of her hnusehold until she was taken with this 
last illness. She lea\es, ln'side^ her husband, two scjus, 
h'red and Henr\' I. Mesiek, and her >4r.uid-ehildreu . ' ' 
n.WNMi CKisl'i; I 1- 1. 

Mrs. tTierrx- I )elefeb\-re, nee Ilamiah Crispe 1 !•' 1, was 
horn on the 7th da\- of Octfiher, 1.S41, in Sutl')n \'alance, 
Kent, luijjland: lived there until March, 1.S52. when the 
famil\- moN'ed to the United States and settled in Cleve- 
land. ()hio. and li\(.-d thete for three \ears, and then 



THIi HISTORY OF 



moved to Plainwell, Allegan county, Michigan, where 
she lived inilil slie was married to Clurr\- Delefeln-re, No- 
vember r>i, 1S73, He was then in Imsiness with (".eorge 
K. Needham m what was calltd the United States hotel, 
Chicago. Cherr>- Delefeln-re was horn in Paris, France, 
on the 24th of Mav, iS;,5; came to tjic- I'nited States 
with his familv in 1S42, for one >ear; graduated in 
Technic College, Paris, France, in 1S56: left Paris in 
iSSQ, antl landed m ^s\•w York the latter part of that 
>'ear; was piofesscjr of I'rer.eh in a pri\'ate academy untd 
iS6[; when the war commenced he eidisted on the first 
call for three months, lint did liot leave Xew York; en- 
listed again on the next call for three years, or duiing 
the war: he joined tile First Xew York artillet\-, and 
went to Fdmira to jnin his regiment; from there he went 
to Washington and tirilled tuitil called on to go to Xevv- 
]iort Xews; arrived there two da\s before the gun-l)oat 
Cundieiland was sunk iiy the Merimac; was tlure until 
called on a week later to take a scouting trip; remained 
in the service ami went through all the battles from New- 
port Xews to F'air (\iks, where lit- was wounded; taken 
to Harrison's Landing, ami from tlure to Fortress .Mon- 
roe, where he remaintd until discharged from the service; 
he then went to Washington, I'. C, and was employed 
in the TreasurN- Department for fi\-e months; in 1 S65 he 
went to Nl-w York where he went in with a friend and 
starteil for a voyage arouml Capt- Horn; thu tour con- 
tinued for c-lf \-i n months and fu-e da>s; he came Itack to 



THE CRISPE FAMILY. 359 



XfW York and remained tluTe a few weeks, and then 
went west to Cliica.i;ii: he was eniplnx'ed for a time li\- a 
Mr. Sliaw, wlio kept the Jar\-is hotel; tht-n worked for 
the Treniont house nnder se\eral men, tuitil he started 
for liiniself; hiter he went into ])arliiershi]) with George 
I-;. Needham tnitil 1S71, wlien the sreat Cliicago fire de- 
stroyed all the\' ])i)ssessed. The> lie<;an Inisiiiess again 
shoitK- after the big fire, and kept together until iSyi 
when they sold the Garden Cilv hotel, liought by them 
in i.'^74. 

In iSiji Mr. DelefelnTe, in coiii]ian>- with his wife, 
left for .an i,xtended triji through lunope, after which he 
Settled in Plainwell. Michigan, and purchased a piece of 
propert)-, and settled down to real comfort. His home is a 
stricth' modern ilwelling. and these jjeojile ha\-e the rep- 
utation of kee])ing their resilience ami gronnds in the 
ne.itest and most in\iting appearance. Mr. Delefeb\Te 
comes from a famih- of the French nobility, and his affa- 
ble manners and generoiisdiearted disposition thoronghly 
bespe.ik his earh' collegiate education in the land of the 
fionre de ly. Though he is not a blood relati\-e of t!ie 
Ciispe famih-— lieing in the circle 1)\- marriage — he, ne\'- 
ertheless, has donated with e(|iial liberalit\- with those of 
the Crisjie blofid. He is highh' esteemed b\- all tlie fam- 
il\', and has been on man\' occasions a comforting arm. 
His careful business sagacit\' has netted him a sufficient 
financial reward to admit of his living in ease and retire- 
ment. He has si en much of the earth's stirface. and is 



360 



THI' HISTORY OF 



well-infonned on matters of tra\X'l and ojeneral jirogrfss. 
He is especially well known for his charitable di^])ostion 
and liberal -niindedness. 

AI.ICK M. CKISI'K I c, I. 

Alice M. Crispe 1 (i 1 was l)orn in 1S40. Slie was a 
most lo\eal)lc \onng lad\'. She die<l in the jirinie of life 
and the shock to the entire relalionsliip wassosexire that 
not to this <la\- have they recoxered. 

The following few worils a]ipeared in the I'lainwell 
hhiterjirise at the time of her death: 

■'Alice M., dan-hler of l-Mward and hdi/ahetli 
Cris])e, died at her parent's lesidence in this \ilki.>;e on 
Monda>- exenins. at the aije of .:;4, after snfferinj; a long' 
time from Inng; fe\-er. She was born in Kent, haijiland, 
a)id liad made her home in (.}ini Plains the most of the 
time since i>l54. The fnneral services were held at the 
home, ke\-. J. Fletcher ]>reachine; the sernn.n. There- 
mains were interred in Plainwell cemetery." 
f,m:\ia CKISI'K I H I. 

Mrs. John Pcilhenuis, nee Paiinia Crispe iH>. was 
liorn in .Sutton \'alance, Kent, h'ntjland. in 1S52. She 
came to America with her parents when three montlis 
old. She received her earh' eilucati'in at Plainwell, 
.Michigan, and wdien a xonng la<l\- taught school in Onn 
Plains townshi]). She was married to Mr. ( "icorge K. 
Xeedhain in i.s.'^h, and his first wife was Cirace Crispe, 
sister of I'hnma. She n.ox'ed to Chiciigo, and hecan'.e 
acti\-eh- engaged as the matron of the Ciarden Cil\' hotel. 




1)1. LKI 1 li\ KK 




MKS. t DKl.KKl- 15\ KK 
ll.miiali rri>].i-.i 





.7Vtv>3 



MH-v h 



MC 




* .. 



^- 




^^f^. 



\1K^ I I'l 11 IIIMI 



TIIlv CkISl'l<; I'AMILV. 



:/\s 



In 1S91, wIk-ii lur hu^liaiid dii.d from llic tlTtct^ iif a 
fall, sIk' iravcUc-il lliroiii^li I'jiropf ami n-^ainel her 
iR-alth. Ill I >!v4 "^liL- \va-^ man icd td Mr. Jdhn I'lillR-mns, 
(if Xcw \"(jrk citv — a i;c-ntkiiK-n wlinm slu' met while 
((jiiiiiit; tile Cdiitineiit. They were niarrie<l and settled 
in I'lnshiiiL;, New \'(jrk, wlieif tlie\ owned a lieaiilifnl 
home. She was (.Kcted Ireasnn r of the John I'olliemns 
I'rinlin.i; Company, the larj.;est lejjal iirinlin.tc fiim of 
New \"ork citv. She was wialthx' before marr>ini; Mr. 
Polhemns. and interested herself deepl\- in the hrm of 
lu-r hnsliand. She was a jovial-spirited soul, and e\'i- 
(leiKX'd a eharitalik- dis])osition such as few peo]5le possess. 
Her willinj;ness to assist aiudiic- who needed lln.nieial 
ser\-ice was Iml a token to the liheralits' whieh she 
evinced for all matters of a charitable chru'acter. It was 
her t;realest (leli<;ht to juircliase presents for the nieces 
and nephews and their children: and not a single Christ- 
mas da\- W(.'nt b\- but she sent by express vahial)le me- 
mentoes of her alTections. These Ynletime .gifts cost her 
annnalh hun<lreds of dollai--, but since she was not 
bles>ed with children, her great fondness for little people 
found expression in these costl\' .gifts. 

She was of a most cheerful disposition, and lo\-ed to 
tra\-el, and did much of the latter, ha\-ing crossed the 
ocean lwel\-e times. It was a ])art of her creed to an- 
nually visit her relations of the I.ake region, and her 
cheerful c<inii-)an\' was ahva>s hailed with jileasure bv old 
and voung. 



366 THE HISTORY OF 



OiK- of her oinliitioiis was to see Ihe Crispe fLUiiiU' in 
])ossessinn (if a genealogy; and with tins in \'iew she 
songht the services of Dr. P). J. Cigraml (earUin iSgo i ancl 
indnceil liini to undertake the ariluous task of compiling 
this record. She assumed the financial (jhligatiiin of Imth 
record-getting and publication; but before she was able 
to help him in a financial way, she died. Her death oc- 
curred February ii, 1900, at Flushing, New York. She 
was buried at Hillside cemeter\-, Plainvvell, Michigan. 
Her estate, amountin.g to something o\-er $100,000, was 
bequeathed cqualh- between the I'olhemus and Crispe 
families: her lirother John Crisi)e, of Plainwell. being 
the senior executor. 

Her husband, Mr. John Polheimis, died a few years 
before her death. A brief sketch of him is as follows: 

"John Polhemus is a ]:)rinter well known throughout 
the entire union. His short, stout fi.gure, his gra>- hair 
and beard, with his yriuthful countenance: his grave, 
dignified wa\- of speaking, and his alert movements are 
known to all Flushin.g people and Xew Yorkers who have 
business near the city hall. ( >nly those, however, who 
were intimate with him, know the efforts he has made to 
elevate his calling, to improve its appearances, and to am- 
eliorate the condition of those who are compelled to earn 
their bread b\- daily toil. No man's sense of justice was 
higher, and c<iuld lie applied to more confidently when 
there was a doubtful question to be decided. 

"Mr. Polhemus was born near Haverstraw. Rock- 



'I'lII'. CRISIM''. I'AMII.V. 367 



land c()nm\-. I)i.'Ctiiilicr 15, \S2f\ TIk- youiiici.-^t of four 
bri'llicTs. anil losinij his inntlu-r when onl)' ihix'c >x'ars 
cilil, Ik- wa-i \i-r\- carl>- ohli^xd In ijo to work. His first 
cni]>losniunt was in a cotton factory, and the next upon 
the Morris and Lehii^h can:ds, Imt in is.)2hecanie to 
Xew York to enter a ])rintinj,>^ otTice. lie soon distin- 
'_;iiisheil himself a-; a r-killfiil hand-jMessnian After ten 
\(.-ars of hard work, hax-inj,' then sa\'ed up a few dollars, 
he entered into partmrship with John de \"iies, as I'ol- 
henins & de X'ries, their work heiui,' chietl\- auction cata- 
loijues, Thev- wroULjhl lont; hours, freqiienth not lea\- 
iiii,' until two and three in the niornin.ij, and neurU' 
alwa\-s stayint; when there w.is work until ten and eleven. 

"An extraordinar\- feat accnnjilislu-d 1)\- Mr. I'olhe- 
nius w.is the ])tintin;^ of (iouMiny's Xew \"ork direclor\'. 
emhraciiiy; nine millions of ems, in eleven (la\s. This 
has never been eipialled for sjieed, 

"He was sttu'dy and eiier,ur<.-tic, and tindeiiiahlv earned 
the proiul position he occupied as the foremost of li\'ini; 
jirinlers. His relations with his employes were of the 
most cordial character, lie knew and understood them, 
svmpathized with their misforttmes and rejoiced in their 
good luck. Tliis epitome of his l)nsine.>;s career demon- 
strates what siugleiie.ss of aim and indoiiiitahle perse\'er- 
ance are capable of acliie\'in,2; in the course of lialf a cen- 
Hir\- of busin(.<s life. 

"He was one of the orgaiii/ers and for manv years 
treasurer of the Xew York Ty]iothat:c, the leading asso- 



,^68 THK HISTORY OF 



ciation of employing printers. Mr. Polhcnui.s was of 
Dutch extraction, and is proud of the distinctii ju. Hl- 
has resided in IHushino- t\vent>-tliree \ears. His second 
wife, who was Mrs. lunnia C. Needliani, of Chicago, liis 
two sons, Horace G.. and Charles Theodnre, his children 
by a first wife, survive him. Both are married, and are 
associated with their father in business at Fulton street." 




.ii»„.»v«-^y^ii8iWiKSft»S^^^^:; 



HOMI-: OF i:. T. CKISI'I 

iV.v-^ Jul. I 




Ill >\IK ol I , 1)1 III l,l;VKK 

■ I'.i-r ^;r.' 




IIDMI ( II JOHN ( KISl'l-. 




M()\1K ( H' Wll M.Wl CKISIM-: 



APPENDIX. 




MDNLMI'N r NO. 4 
I Page Sgi 



THI". CklSI'I'. I'AMILV. 377 



Al'l'IA'PIX. 

Ailiiitionnl iiifoiiuaiion on Sir Nu-liolas Crispc " the 
oiihl faithful scr\-ant of Cliark-s tht- I"irst." lias been ub- 
taiiied, and can ]>v fouml on i>ai;-t' <)5, volume XIII, I)ic- 
tiouarv i)f National liios^rajjliy. It reads: 

■'Sir Nicholas Crispe — I599i?)-i666 — Royalist; was 
descended from a faiuih' possessing; estates in (iloncester- 
shire, and en^asied in trade in London. His fatlier, KUis 
Cris]5e, was SlierifT of London in 1623. durinii which 
year he died \ Collections Relatinj;- to the h'aniihof Crispe 
II, pa);e ,V' • He was a widower aj;ed 29 when he mar- 
ried Sarah Spencer, on June :S, 162.S, (Chester marriag-e 
licenses, ed. I'osier, paj;e 355 K He therefore probably 
was born in i59,S or 151)9. Frecinent menlion.s of Sir 
Nicholas Crispe in the Colonial State Papers show him 
actively engaged in the African trade from 1625 onwards. 
Ill i''i29 he and his partners ])etitioned for letters of re- 
prisal against til'.- French, stating that tlie\' had lost 
,/.'2o,ooo by the capture of one of their ships. On No- 
vember 22, 1632. Cliarles I. issued a proclamation grant- 
ing to Crispe and five others the exclusive right of trad- 
ing to r.uinen. which was secured them b\- jiatent fr>r 
thirty-one years Nevertheless, in 1637 Crispe's company 
complained that interlopers were infringing on their 1110- 
iinpolv of transporting 'nigers' from C.uinea lothe West 



.^7S THE HISTORY OF 



Indies (Colonial Stnto Papers, CollectiDn 1 574- if'ifio, 
pa.iJfS 75 and 114). The wealth thus acciuircd tiiaMed 
Crispe to become one of the customers who contracted 
with the Kinj; in if>4o for the two farms of the custcims 
called the (".reat and Petty I-'luui. The petition of the 
surx'ivinv; contractors presented to Charles II. in lOOi, 
states that the_\- adwanced to the King on this s(..cnrit>- 
/'s.s^.ooo for the ]xi\-ment of the na\-\' and other pnhlic 
uses ( Somers' Tracts, \-olume \"II, pa^e 513). Cris]>e 
received th.e honor of Kni.nhthood on January r i(')4i. 
He was elected to the Lont; Parliament as a mend>er for 
W'inchelsea, l)nt was attacked as a monopolist directlx- 
Parliament ripened. On No\-emlier ;i, 1640, he was ord- 
ered to attend the Conunittee of ('.rie\-ances, and to siib- 
niit at once to the House of Commons the patents for the 
sole trade to Guinea, and the sole importation of red- 
wood: also that concernini;- copjieras stones, and that lor 
the moniipoU- of makim; and \-endinK beads 1 Rnshworth, 
\-olnme I\', patje 5'; 1. For his share in these he was ex- 
]ielled from the House on Februar\- 2, 1641. At the 
same time he and the other custrmiers were called to ac- 
count for hax-ing collected the duties on merchandise 
without a Parliamentary .2:rant, and onl\- obtained an act 
of indemnity on payment of a fine of /' 150,000 (Gardiner 
Journals. Ma\- 25-26, 1641 ). 

"In the CiN'il War, Crispe not unnaturalh- took the 
side of the King, but remained at first in London, and 
secrcth- sent money to Charles. His conduct was discov- 



THK CRISPH FAMILY 



crt'd li\- ail iiitficcpU'd kttcr of Sir Ri)lii.-rt Pye''-, and his 
arrest was i>rdi.-r(.Hl i Saiitnrd, Studies of the- dreai Kf- 
lielllon, jiagc S47 '. lUit In- succot-di-d in (.'scaiiinj; to Ox- 
ford ill (lis<j;iiis(.-, and was wvlcoiiR-d by tlie Kiiit; with the 
title of dittle old faithful fanner' i siK-cial ]iassases, l'"eli- 
niar\- 14-ri, i'''43 : and afterwards cnn\-eyed to London 
h\' Lad\' .\iilii>;iiy; Ilusliand. Ordinances of Parliament, 
folio pa t;v 201; Clarendon, Rebellion, \-oluuie X'H: pajjes 
,=;>-) and I'm }. He was also implicated in O^de's ])lol in the 
winter of l<')4,'',, and the estate of his brother, Samuel 
Crispe. was sequestrated by the Parliament for the sanio 
business (Camden Miscellany, volume X'lIL A Secret 
Xei,foti:uion with Charles L. pa^"-'^ - n"d is>. 

"On JuK- V l''>4.-^. Cris]->e obtained a commission 
from the KiiiR t" raise a retjinient of fi\'e hundred horse, 
bui before it was coni]ilete it was surjirised at Cirencester 
b\- Ivssex. 011 his match back from Crloucester, and cnp- 
tiued to a man 1 September 15, i'''4.^,: Pibliotheca Cdou- 
cestrensis. jiajj^-s 74 and 174 ^ Crispe himself was not 
present with his regjiment at the disaster. A few da>''; 
earlier he had been in\-olved in a quarrel with Sir Lames 
lun-on, on Northamptonshire, which led to a duel in 
which the latter was mortally wounded. Crispe was 
brousht to a court-martial for this affair, but honorablv 
ac(|uitted on the ground of the provocation and iniiir>- 
he had received from his antagonist i, October 2, 1643, 
Sander.son, Charles L, page 666 K Li the following No- 
vember, Crispe received a commission to raise a regiment 



38o THR HISTORY OF 



of fiftc-en hiindrccl foot ( Xovciiilier 17, Black, Oxford 
Docquc'ts), hut it does not apjienr that Ik- carriccl out this 
design. For tht- rest of the war his services were chiefly 
performed at sea. 

"On Ma\- Ci. 1644, lie recei\-ed a coniiiiission to equip 
at his own and his ]3artners' expense not less than fifteen 
ships of war, with power to make prizes (il)*: He was 
granted a tenth of the ]irizes taken !)>• his shi]is. and also 
appointed recei\-er and auditor of the estates of delin- 
quents in Cornwall (Collection Clarenden State Papers, 
\T)Iume I, page.s 264 and 294). As the royal fleet was 
entirely in the hands of the Parliament, the services of 
Crispe's scjuadron in maintaining the King's comnuinica- 
tions with the Continent, and procuring supplies of arms 
and annnunition, were oi special \-alue. He :d.so acted 
as the King's factor on a large scale, selling tin and wool 
in France, and hux'ing powder with the proceeds ( Hus- 
liand. Collection of Orders folio, pages S42 and S46). 
These services naturall\- procured him a corresponding 
degree of hostility from the Parliament, He was one of 
the persons excluded from indemnity- in the terms pro- 
posed to the King at I'xbridge, His pecuniKr\' losses 
had also been very great. When Crispe fled from Lon- 
don the Parliament confiscated ^5,000 worth of bullion 
which had been deposited in the Tower. The\' also se- 
questerated his stock in the Ouinea Conipan\' for the pa\- 
ment of a debt of /; 16,000 which he was asserted to owe 
the State (Camden Miscellanv, \-olume \'in; A Secret 




QUEEN ELIZABETH. 
(Who confcrriMl Kiii-lilhnoil ,.n Sir Hcriiv (rispr.i 




KIN'C, i.\Mi:s 

(Who conltrri-d Knii;liili(io<l nn Sir l.'h.irlcs Crispc.) 



THK CRISP]-; FAMILY. .-,85 



Nt-L;otiati()ii wiili Chark-s I., pa.^ics 2 and iSi. His lioiiiL' 
in lirc-ad sti\-t--l was sold to jiay off llu- debt, and the offi- 
('(.-rs thrown o\it of (.•niplo>ini.Mit on tlu- constitution of 
llu- Nvw Modc-1 < I'erf. Dinrnal, April 16, ir^^i. He is 
said also to lia\-e lost ,-{20.000 liy the c.aiHnre of two sJiips 
from (".uinea. the one 1)\- a ParlianientaiN shiji, the other 
1>>- a pirate < Certain Inforinatiotis, October 3<:), Nowmber 
6, I r>4;, . . 

"Xex-ertheless, his remaining estates must ha\'ebeen 
eonsiderable, for on Ma\' fi, \C^4=,. tile House of Connnons 
ordered tlr t id, 000 a \-ear should be ])aid to the elector 
palatine out of the ]iroperties fif Crispe and I.r.rd Cot- 
tiui^ton < JournaK of the House of Commons > (^11 the 
final truunph of the Parlianientarv cause. Crisjie fled to 
I'rance < W'hitelocke Memorials, p.ic;e 2001, but he does 
not seem to ha\-e remained lony; in e.xik-. He was allowed 
to return, probablx' owinij to the inthienoe of his many 
Puritan relati\es in London, and officers in the list of 
compounders as pa\in>i :i compensation of ^..346 ( Drinjj 
Catalogue, edition i",'^,'^, patje 251. In the act passed 1).\' 
Parliament in Xo\ember, 1653, for the sale of the Crown 
forests, the debt due to Cris]ie and his associates, in the 
form of the customs, was allowed as a jniblic faith debt of 
./?276, 146. but solely on the condition th.at they advance a 
like sum for the public seiA'ice within a limited period. 
The additional sum advanced was then to be acce])ted as 
'monies doubled luider the act.' and the total debt com- 
puted at .{552.000 to be secured on the Crown lands. But 



3S6 THE HISTORY OF 



alth()nj;li Crispe and liis ])artiiers were vvilliuvj to take ii]) 
this speculation, the\- could not ijet toijether nii 're than 
i'30,000, and tlieir petition for more time was refused 
I Collection of State Paj^ers, Dom., ifi^--^-^., pages 265, 
.i5,i. 357 '• Other speculators were equalh' unfortunate. 
Crispe had advanced /^i.soo for the recon(|uest of Ire- 
land, but when the lands came to be di\ided amon.g the 
adventurers, the fraud of the surve>ors awarded him his 
share in bog and o larse land (Pttition in I'rendergast , 
Cromwellian Settlement, page 241 ). The ]irospect of the 
Restoration gave him hopes of redress, and he forwarded 
it !)>■ all means in his power, He signed the declaration 
of the London Ro\alists in support of Monck (.April 24, 
16601, and was one of the committee sent l)y the cit\' 
to Charles II. at Breila iMn>- 3, 1660; Kennet Register, 
pages I 2 I - 13,31. 

"In the following Juh', Crispe ]x-titioned from a 
prison for the payment of some part C)f the dtbt due him 
for his ad\-ances to the State; his own share of the great 
sum owing amounting to /30,ooo (Collection State Papers, 
Dom. 1660-1, page 122.) In the next three vc'ars he suc- 
ceeded in obtaining the partial reimbursement of these 
debts, and the grant of se\-eral lucrati\-e employments as 
compensation for the rest. In Way. 1661, he obtained 
for his son the office of Collector of Customs in the port 
of London, and in June he became himself farmer of the 
dnt>- on the export of sea coal. He obtained /io,ooo for 
his ser\nccs in compounding the King's debt to the East 



Tin-; cKisri-; family. 3S7 



India Ci>nipaii\-, ami two-thirds of tlu- customs on spices 
were assit;iK(l to liini until tin- remaining; ,/;;o,ooo of his 
own dcl>t was repaid 'ili. i''''''i-r. pa,t;es 14, 25, .^.^i. ^'f)8i. 
Onci.' more in ])artnersliip with the survivors of the old 
customers, he became a contractor for the farm of the 
customs, and Charles allowed them a lar^e abatement in 
consideration of the old debt db. i''i''\';-4, I^a^es 123, 6761. 
"On Ajiril I'''. 16^15, Crispe was created a Haronel, 
wliich (liy;iiily conlinned in liis family until the death of 
his threat grand-son , Sir Charles Crispe, in 1 740 (I^urke, 
Ivxtinct Hari inetat;ei. Crispe sur\'iveil this work of the 
Kind's fa\-or oul\' aliout ten months, <l\'ini; on February 
26, 166:;. 6. His will is piinted in Mr. I". .-\. Crispe's 
Collections Kelatiu),' to the I'amilv of Crisjie (\-olume II, 
]'a>;e 33'. His bod\- was buried in the church of St. 
Mildred, Bread street, but liis heart was jilaced in a mon- 
unu-nl to the niemor\- of Charles I., wliich he had erected 
sliorth- after the Restoration in the chaj^el at Hammer- 
smith The magnificent house built b>- Crispe at Ham- 
meismith was bought in i6S;, bv Prince Rupert for his 
mistress, Margaret Hughes, and became in the present 
century the residence of Queen Caroline 'Lysons, F'uvirons 
of London. Middlesex, 402-91. liesides his eminent ser- 
vices in the promotion of the African trade, Crispe i.s 
credited with the introduction of man>- domestic arts and 
manufactures. The art of brickmaking as since practiced 
was his own. conducted with incredible patience througli 
innumerable trials and perfected at \-ery large expense, * 



3SS THE HISTORY OF 



•'' ■'■■ By his CDiniimnicatiriii new in\'ciilii)ns. as watir- 
iiiills, pa|it.-r-niills ami pciwer-iiiills, caint- into nse. iLi\-i.-s 
iif Kniint-nt Citizens, (pioted in Bi()^ra])hia Britannicai. 
"[Crispe's Cdllectiiins Relatiii.t; to tlie Kaniilv of 
Crispe; Cal. State Pajjers, Doni.; Clarenddn's History cif 
the RelieHion; ]5nrke's hlxtinct liaronetaf^e; Llo>-irs 
Memoirs of Ivxcellent Fersonases: Iiio<;Taphia Hritan- 
iiica; ed. Kippis, \-ohnue I\".]" 

KKVKKKM) TdIUAS CKISTK 

The Rexerend Tohias Crispe is hi.^hh' -^poken > if in 
the Dictionary of National Hiot;raphy, \-olunie XIII, as 
follows: "Tdbias Crispe ( 1600- ifS_^_^,i: antinomian: third 
son of l^llis Crispe once Sheriff of London, who died in 
i^''2^: was horn in i'')oo, in Bread street. London. His 
elder brother was Sir Nicholas Crispe iq. v.i. After leav- 
ing lUon, matriculated at Camhridj^e, where he remained 
until he had taken his B. A., when he removed to Iialliol 
Colletce, Oxford, graduating M. A. in i'"';''', Aliout this 
time he married Mary, daug^hter of Rowland Wilson, a 
London merchant, an M, P., and meinlier of the Council 
of State in 1640-9, !)>■ whom he had thirteen children. 
In 1643, Sir R. Lancaster completed his edition of Crispe's 
sermons and works. The same authorit\' state^' that 
Crispe refused 'preferment and advancement.' When he 
obtained the de.S5:ree of D. D. is not known, but certainly 
prior to 1642, in which year he was compelled to leave 
his rector>' in consequence of the petty persecution he 
met with from the Rovalist soldiers en account of his in- 




SKAI.S AND SIC.M'.IS l )\ OLD l RISI'I-: DiKTMlXIS 




COLD AND PKAKI, CKKCIAN SICN'K'I' RINGS, 
I Hfirlnonis of Thonias Ciispc.) 



Till'. CklSl'lv I-AMILV. 393 

cliiiatiiiii to I'uritauisin. and r>.-lin.-il to Loiuloii in An.i;u>t, 
i'''42. His rontro\-t,-rsc\' with l''.])isco])alians — fiflN-two 
oiiponeiits — was luUl at the clost- <if that vi-af. a t'nll ac- 
count of uiiich is ^iv(.i\ in Nelson's Life of Bisliop Bull 
ipa<;es 260-270). IK- died of sniall-pox on I'-fbniary 27, 
i''i42-3, and was hnricil in St. Mildred's church. I'read 
street. Several atilhorities state that he contracted the 
disease from the eagerness with w hich he concluded his 
])art of the debate After his death his discourses were 
pnhlislied t)\- R. Lancaster as: 1, Christ Alone Exalted,' 
in fourteen sermons, i(t4;'-,: 2, 'Christ Alone Ivxalted,' in 
se\'enteen sermons on Phil. IH, S-c;, 1644; 3, 'Christ 
Alone I'lxaUed in the rerfection and I'jicouragcment of 
His Saints. Notwithstanding; Sins and Tryals,' in eleven 
sermons, i64f>; 4, 'Christ Alone ]'"xalted,' in two ser- 
mons, i6,S3. When the first of these \oltniies appeared 
the Westminster Assembly proposed to have it biu-nt as 
heretical, which, houe\er, does iiot appear to have been 
done. In ifj^o, his 'Works,' prefaced by portrait, were 
rep.ublished with additions 1)\ one of his sons. 

"Lancaster says: His life was innocent and harm- 
less of all evil. •■ ■■'■ Zealous and fer\ent of all good. 

"[Granger, I\', 179: L>'sons's Kiivirons of London. 
VIL i; Hiog, Brit., art. Toland, note B: Crispe's Works 
'Lancaster's edition*. 1643: Wood's Athan:e, Oxon, 
(Blissi. IIL 50: Bogue's History Dissenters, I, 399: 
Wilson's History of Dissenting Churches, 11. 201: HL 
443: Mernioir in (".ill's edition of Crisjie's Works, 1791: 



394 THE HISTORY OF 

Neal's Histor>- of the rurilaiis, 111, is, (.■iliti(Jii ij^fi. 
A curious account <if Crisp^'s death is i_;ivfn in llic Last 
Moments and Triiunjihant Heaths, etc , 1S57.]" 
a:\ii-:kicax no'ii-.s. 
"Oreen's Hislor\- of Colonists at C.rolon, says, ]ia,y;e 
44: The followint,' is a hst of sohHers who ser\ed in llie 
tjanison at (".rotou during; Kin;_c I'hihji's War; (harv kept 
hy John Hull, Treasurer of the Cohmy of Massachusetts: 
"Soldiers were paid at P.oston as follows: 
"April 24, ifijfi, to Jonathan Cris])e. ,/ j sm d6. 
"June 24. if)76, to Zachare\' Cris])e, {,2 S15 ds 
Pa.tCc 73 ■'^•i>>^: "The storv of William I,on;;le\- auil 
Delix'erance is a sad one. They were li\-in.i; with ei^lit 
children on a small farm perhaps a mile fnun the \-illa,tce, 
on the east side of the Hollis ro:ul. Their huiise was 
liuilt of hewn loijs, and was staudin.t; at the l)ei;iniiin<; of 
the ]iresent century. The old cellar with its well hiid 
walls was distincth- \-isible forts' \ ears a,i,'o: traces of it 
could he seen even to very modern times. The site of 
this house has recenth- l)een marked with a monument 
bearing the following inscriptirm: 

' ' ' Here dwelt 

William Lon,gle\ 

with eight children. 

On the 27tli of July, 1694, the Indians killed 

the father and mother and five children, and 

carried into capti\'it\- the other three.' 

"The monument was erected in the autum of 1S79, 



TITK CklSPK FAMILY. 



y)r 



at tlu- (.■\]H-n-.e <if ihi.- tdwii, mi land L^ciifiniisK .t,MVL'n for 
the luiriKise hy Mr. Z. I'lUh, tin- ]>n."-vnt owiK-r (if the 
farm. On the fatal morning of Jiilv 271I1, 161^4, the 
massacre- of this faniil\- look ]ilace. Tin.' sa\-a.L;(.'S ap- 
jx-arc-d siuKkaiK-, ooniiiii; fr< ■111 the other side of the 
Merrimac river, and lie,i;an the att.ick. ]'',arl\- in tile 
niornin.i; of the attack the Indians turned the cattle ont 
of the liani-\ard into tlu- cornfield, and la\- in aiiilmsh. 
The sirata.i^eni had the desired effect , for as he nished 
out of the house unaniled. in order to drive the cattle 
hack he was cajitured ami !mirdere<l: the rest of his 
faiiiil\ murdered and cajitured. The hodies of the slain 
wi-re linned in one .i,'ra\-e liy the nei^ldiors. and a small 
apple-tree i;ri 'wiiii; on the spot and a stone l\ini; e\-en 
the ground marked the urave of this unfortunate famih'. 
■ 'Deliv'erance Crispe Lont;le\'\vas amoni; the ca]iti\-es. 
I)eli\-erance, or Lydia as she was called, was sold to the 
I'Vench and placed in the Coii,t;rei;ation of Xotra Pame, 
Canada (Muntreali, where she emhiaced the faith of 
Roman Catholicism, and (.lied Jul\' 20, 17.^^ at the ad- 
\'anced age of ,^4 \ears. Her ca]itive sister, Hettw per- 
ished soon after her capture from hiintcer and eN])osure, 
and John, the third capti\-e. remaiueil with the sax-a^-es 
for more than four yi-ars, when he was rans. iim-d and 
liroui;ht away, much against his own will. At one time 
during his capti\-il\- he was 011 the \-eree of starving 
when the Indians kiudlv gave him a dog's foot to gnaw, 
which for a time appeased his hunger, lie was known 



396 THIv HISTORY OF 



among- his captors as John AuKar\'. Their grand-UKiUK-r, 
thf widdw of Kt-njamin Cris]>c, niailc lier will im A])ril 
■,v I'i9''^. which was ailr.iittcd to probate on licccnilier 
2Sth following, ami in it she remembered these absent 
capti\-e children; 'I gi\e and beiiueath mit<i ni\- three 
grand-children, yet in captivit\-, if they return, \i/dt: 
Three books; one of them a Bible, another a sermon book 
treating of faitli, and the other a Psahii book.' 

"The old lady herself doubtless had read the 'sermon 
book treating of faith,' and it must ha\-e strengthened 
her belief in Divine wisdom, and been a great consolation 
in her trials. She did not know at this time that her 
grand-daughter was a convert to the Roman Catholic 
faith. The knowdedge of this fact would have been to 
her an affliction scarcely less than the massacre of her 
daughter's famil>-." 




\1K. AM) MKS. CI.KMKN I iklM'K. 




.HILDKEN Ol- MK. ANH MKS, W , II. i KIM^h. 



I-KKA I A 

In tin- tall 111 iij'ii Mt. Jiihii Cri>pc.' pai^i- 349' was 
iiianifil lo ^Ii-^s Martha Fon-haum, wlui fi ir souif x'ears 
tausjlit --oliiiiil al I'lamwcll, Micliiyaii 



( )ii i>aL;i.' \i-;. the naiiR' " Ciiuii ' l'laiii> nIiouUI be 
Cnn" i'laiu-^ 



'I'lu- rii>;ra\ iiii; marked " ' Cris|>i.- ami W'iiine Arms 
■-lioiilil \)v "Cri>i)i- and Dcnne Arms." 



INDEX. 



Arms (if Cri'^jif 
AiiK-iii-an I'"amilii-> 
Anna Crisjn-. No. I X 
Anna IIut^lnn-^(lU, 
Adiliu Ihnit 
\\\\v X. Crispt- 
AIic- M, Cri'-ix- 
Apprmlix 



l"r. 


Mlt 


i>I 


>:\)iv 




i( 




27 1 
'54 

V14 
1 1 7 
3 60 



P>i)vvKs I'nmily 
Hircliinston Faniilv 
BnnkiT Crisiii- 



47 
274 



Cri';|>i' CliarilN- I'anii 
Cri--pf Monnnuiits 
CK-nu-nt Crispc, X(i I\' 
CliarK-N Crispr. Xn. \' 
Colonial Crispi-s 
Ci'ispc C.ranl 
Colonial Soldiers 
Charter Oak 
Cliarlf> Cri-]H-, 1! 
Cluaiv I)rkf.-li\rr 



81 
' 5' 



4o6 



I )(.-li\-irnm'r Crispi- 
I tf. I'l ank l'>(i\vk> 
Dr. 1'.. J. Ci.uraiul 
Dr. I'.. I. CiL;iMii(l 



IXDI'.X. 
D 



2;,S 
2 So 

,^i 7 
<'niiilispa;;c 



I''.ii>;li.sh Cri^pe-^ 
I'li/ahetli Cii^lK-. No. \' 1 11 
I'dward Crispc-. Xo. XIII 
ICdwani Cris]if, I{ 
I'",(l\vnr(i Crispc, a 
Ivdwaril Cri^jic, li 
I\])iscopalian Ciispcs 
Ivniiua Cri-^pi-, ( '• 



47 
I .^^^ 

j.SS 

294 
-7 ' 



iMviich Soldier^ 
l-'n.-inli- HnL;in.-niil- 



4,^ 



C.r. ir-c CrisiK-. X... Ill 
( ',1 i\'uni(ir .Aiidni'- 
('.race I-',. Crispc, H 
C.cirfff Lt-vc-lt 



150 
2 2g 

.l42 



Ilonnralik- J. lAverclt 
II..iiciraMe C. K. Cri-]) 
HoiKH-al.lf W". J. Hrvau 
Iluiioralik' C k Cri-^p 
Hannah Cris]i(.- 



20S 
246 

2fu, 
2 hi) 



ixi)i':\. 



ll..nni:il,l,- Inlin Cl:irk 



1"7 
-1.1 



lnscri])tiiiii 
liUrcidncloi \' 
Indian (.'aptix-cr 
Indian Wars 



John Cri-.pc, 

Jolin Cri-pr. X.. XI 

Jiilui Crisp(.-, A 

Jdlni !,, Cii-pc. c- 
John Cri-pr, h: 
Janu-, Crisp,-. Xn XII 
Jainrs Lhi'-pf^. C 
Jnha I'.nuna Cii^jic. c 
Janus X Cwnlrv 
hihn i'ollunnw 



I 4 -' 
154 



,1' 2 



2^5 



Kint;- of Thanrl 
Kalhi-rini- Crispr 






Law- ot" lU-r, (hl\ 
Lord Ma\..r n! I,.,ndon 



Man.. I Ro\ton 
Marv Cri-P< . Xc \"I 
Mar\ Stone Cri-pr. h 
Marv and W'ilhani CoU. 



I 37 
1 52 

,l<'2 



4o8 IXDl'.X. 

N 

Xniiit- ...... 30 

NcIIk- Kcatiuii . . . . . 312 

Noriiiaii Si)lillcrs .... 3^' 

Xi.'llii' Siiutli .... .■^4" 

( ) 

Origin ■ »f Fami1\- .... 29 

< )|(1 Stall- l'a]it.-i> .... «2 

P 

Prt-facc.- . . . . c) 

l'ili;iiiiis .... ")2 

l'ris(_illa Crispe. .... 2S''> 

Priscilla Crispt-, I) . . . 342 

I'rncni Id .Anu-rn'a . . . 165 

n 

Otifx Park . . . . M 

Oncx Drama . . . . . loi 

Qiiet-n p;ii/aht-lli .... Sz 

R 

Rt-\'(.-n.-ii(l I'dliia^; Cri.'-'pt-' .... 129 

Ke\tTfii(l .Sainiifl Crispe. , . . 129 

Ke\-eri:-ii(i j \\'ht-el\vrig;ht . . . 205 

Re\-erfiKl ]-!. Culenian .... 214 

RoijL'r Williams . . . 205 

.S 

Sturv of nucx .... 4S 
Sir Xicholas Crispe . . . . 114 377 
Sir Hl-iitn- Crispi.' . . . . •5.'^ 



INDKX 4"M 

Sir .Mira K;i\nar(ls(>ii . . . i ■',; 

Sir .\iilli(in\ Ciik-pi^-ppr .... i.^'^ 

Sir H:ur\ ( ".onijli . . . . I'l^ 

Sir kicliaril I iii,n)lsl)y . . . I.i^ 

Sir iMlwaiil Moiiiiin .... i^v^^ 

Sir kiclianl I/\atl . . . . i .V 

.Sir Kdimmii ,\iuin>^ .... i yi 

Sir Cliarlt'S Crispi-, .... i ,V) 

Sir John (.'risjK- . . . . i 

SultDii \',ilaiu-c Faiiiilx . . 141 

T 

Thomas Crispe, No. 2 . . . I4g 

W 

William Crispe, No. i . . 14,^ 

William Crispe. . . . '44 

William H, Crispe. d . . . . ,^ii 

William Crispe. C . . . . p,^f> 

William Delano ..... 302 

Winde Family . .' . . 78 

Z 

Zulestein Family .... 72 



" 'PIk- hi>tiir\' of a nation is inatlc up of ihe lives 
)f its inhabitants. " X'ictok Hitgo. 



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